Slap Comics

Recap: “At Comic Con, A body is found. His friend Dave.  His other friend Ralph, suspect. He comes home, a gun is at his head. Ralph wants to talk. According to Ralph, James Thomas wants him out of the way for control of Mugs Bear. After this encounter the Cartoonist asks out Cidra for a date. After a talk with Jimmy takes makes him believes him and a talk with Gino that gives him a new suspect, the Cartoonist is attacked and ends up in the hospital where he finds out Ralph is arrested. But Gino finds a piece of evidence that may convict or exonerate”

                                🎨

It looks like a brown crescent moon with a jagged edge. Its small. Maybe about half inch or less. It could be the evidence we need. Or maybe not. I am not sure what to think about it. Gino tells me that he will continue to dig, and he leaves. I put it on my dresser and go to bed. I think fresh eyes in the morning would help. I wake up in the morning and decide to go back to the Convention Center. The Comic Con ended but I feel that someone there may know what this brown crescent moon is. The head honcho is still there to pack things up and he would be in the know. After a shower and a quick breakfast, I take the train to midtown. The Convention Center is quite empty at this time. No major shows happening for a few months so it’s the perfect time. I walk right in since I am familiar with the security guy Henry. He asks what I am here for, knowing that the convention is over and that it’s his job to ask. I tell him that I am here to see Harrison Bell. He tells me he’s in his office and after a quick call he tells me I can go in. 

After nearly getting lost in the maze of hallways and backdoors I finally find his office. I knock on the door, and I hear a voice saying, “Come in”. I enter and he’s at his temporary desk on his cell phone in a heated conversation. I am not sure who it is, but it doesn’t look good. “”Well, I am not sure what you want me to do about it. This whole thing literally dropped in my lap…Oh ok. I will talk to you later” He hangs up and drops his phone on the table. Kind of hard. I am wondering if this was the wrong time to come and talk. “So, what can I do for you?” It sounded sincere but what do I know? I tell him that I am looking into the whole Mugs Bear situation. Saying Mug Bear seems to give him a shutter. “So, you are a cop now?” I wave my head No. “So, you a PI now?” I tell him No. I am starting to think that this was bad idea. 

He gets up and starts to pace. “You know how bad this thing has been for me and the convention?” Never mind what it did for Dave and Ralph. I don’t say that. “So, what makes you think it’s your business to be looking into this?” He is starting to get louder. I am getting nervous. I get up the courage, stand up, and get in his face. I tell him in a defiant voice that Dave and Ralph were my friends and I owe it to Dave to make sure that his murder is solved in respectful manner. “Oh…I’m sorry. I am taking out my frustration out on you. I shouldn’t have. Look I get it” He walks to his seat and plops down. He then says in a calm voice “So what can I do to help? “I hand him the brown crescent moon and ask him does he know what it could be. He looks at it for about a few minutes and then a look of recognition. “Oh, it could be part of a Mugs Bear key chain. It was a free gift to all of the vendors by the Mugs Bear Toy Company, See?” He hands me his keys and it has a small Mugs Bear keys they match. But his key chain is whole. 

I tell him Thanks and I am on my way. He stops me and apologies again. I ask What for. “I am sorry that I put you in a bad situation with Cidra Saunders. I know you’re friends and I hate that I made you tell her the news” Although you shouldn’t have removed her from the convention in the first place. Saying her name made my heart drop. I haven’t heard from her since the attack and wondering why. I tell him that it’s ok and that I need to leave. I exited the convention  center and decided I needed a release and that meant comics. So I go to my regular comic shop to peruse the latest issues of my favorites. 

Then I see it. It stares me in the face and I couldn’t look away. 

To be Continued…