Post by The Wonderful Wachter on Jan 16, 2012 0:21:59 GMT -5
Ultimate Spoilers #6
Under the Purple Hood Pt 6
Spoilers!!!
Outside City Hall, Historic District of Blüdhaven
The tiny iPhone almost found itself crushed into even smaller pieces by the tight grip of Jason Todd. He stood on the steps all but ignored by the comings and goings of the people around him. They possessed enough shame and fear to avert their gazes as they passed him. It was okay to him. He ignored them as well. They were beneath him; pawns in a game on a board they never knew existed.
Why would she do that? Why would she refuse him?
It wasn’t narcissism that made him question. Nor was it jealousy. It was fear. Stephanie’s curiosity, her sense of good and righteousness, her… love of her father was going to get her killed. That last realization made him rethink the jealousy denial.
Sighing, Jason put the phone in his jacket pocket before he could smash it. Choosing to be his own man while simultaneously stepping up into his so-called destiny was putting a serious dent in his wallet. He couldn’t afford to continue to spend openly on his daily life else his nightlife would probably come to a painful end.
He waited at the crosswalk next to a pretty twenty-something brunette – either someone’s daughter or mistress – in a miniskirt and tight leggings while a bunch of bureaucrats on their way home kept their distance from him. The young woman, he took a second peak to confirm she was cute and winked at her, opened her mouth to probably return the flirtatious gesture when a sheet of paper blew across the street and plastered itself across her face. Her gasp of surprise nearly caused her to swallow it whole. Impressive.
All about them rained down tiny bits of paper like confetti from a parade, showering the historic district and causing vehicles to screech to a halt. Above soared a red blur holding a glowing rod; the source of the impromptu littering. People watched – they got out of their cars and turned eyes upward – as the blur rained more and more down upon them, circling every few seconds.
Anger beat within Jason’s heart. Disbelief pumped throughout his arteries. The man had a death wish. Just like his daughter.
Jason snatched one of the sheets out of the air. Upon it was nothing more than a golden shield; a shield bearing a three legged lion as heraldry over a wave meant to represent water. He crushed the paper and put it in his pocket alongside his phone.
With the walk sign flashing despite no one paying attention, Jason crossed towards the parking garage where his bike was located… but not before he had one last look at city hall. He too turned his eyes upwards and saw exactly what he expected to see. A dark haired man on one of the upper floors of the turn of the century designed building had reached out of his window to grab a piece for himself. Furious eyes, a match for Jason’s own, observed Cluemaster’s retreat before turning downward and searching.
Jason had been trained too well. He finished crossing the street without running, without haste. This was going to be own hell of a gamble
---
It was a repeat of the night before except Gordon’s glare was primarily focused on Charlie and to a lesser extent Cassandra than it was on Stephanie. She tapped the arms of her wheelchair in obvious annoyance at the task at hand. Her mouth opened more than once to start to berate them but she just as quickly closed it. Finally, she sighed, put her hands together in her lap and turned the mean teacher stare on Stephanie only.
“I know I can’t stop you. The four of you make that obvious,” a knowing nod towards Cass, “and I’m quickly running out of time, choices, and the energy needed to fight you so I’ll make the four of you a deal. I shall let three of you work this case providing you follow my direction. Understood?”
A chorus of three “yes ma’ams” came from the girls. The fourth was a loud ‘what’ exclaimed by Charlie. Given their relationship, she knew Gordon was singling her out from the case. And she was handling it like a spoiled child.
“You’re too young,” responded her guardian quite calmly and meeting those furious eyes.
“Too young?” Charlie’s voice lacked all its traditional rainbows and gumdrops and unicorns cadence to it. “Steph and Cass are only a year older than me. Beth has no reason to be here other than she can drive. Besides, I can evade security like no one else!”
“Apparently not good enough,” muttered Beth under her breath.
Gordon waited for the tantrum to finish. She kept her palms together on her lap, lips a thin line of disproval. “Be that as it may, Cassandra is a trained assassin,” despite the impromptu twists of the head to stare from the two blonds, she continued uninterrupted, “Stephanie has all the abilities of her father, and Beth is an Olympic level athlete and nearly a genius with –“
It happened in an instant. Beth hooked her leg between Charlie and pulled with all her might to catch the younger girl’s arm in a lock behind head. It was a feat of skill, strength and precision for Beth to stop her nose an inch from the ground, holding the girl steady.
Stephanie blinked in disbelief. She hadn’t seen that coming or known Beth to be capable of it. On the other hand, Cassandra remained unimpressed with the showmanship.
“My father didn’t raise weak daughters,” Beth answered the unasked question as she let Charlie back up.
“Thank you, Beth.” The following pause from Gordon was only long enough for her ward to calm herself. “In the field, Cassandra will take point. The other two will provide support if needed. Otherwise you’ll be here at base with me. Yes, Stephanie?”
“Actually, we already came up with a plan.”
“Oh? Do tell…”
It was difficult to detect if that was sarcasm or not. “We already knew Cass is the only one of us who knows what she’s doing. We’re not completely suicidal, my actions last night notwithstanding. But even with the lenses Charlie provided us,” the girl was too frustrated to be flustered at her theft being revealed, “she can’t always look in the right place for me to see what I need to see. So we decided that it’s going to take all of us working as a team, not as individuals, to bring my dad in and prevent whoever he’s working for from killing him.
“If he’s on the move, Cass or Beth will shadow him. If he’s still. I come in. I listen to his words. I pay attention to my surroundings. I try to find weakpoints in his security detail. That sort of thing. But, and this is important, we need Charlie to make it work.” Stephanie laid a reassuring hand on the girl in question’s shoulder. “There won’t be three or four of us out there. There will be only one. If someone gets hurt or can’t handle it, Charlie bamfs in and replaces her with someone else.”
Gordon had the good grace to look pensive. She leaned back in her chair, once more taking in the resolve in each of the girls’ eyes. There was nothing innately wrong with the plan. And it could definitely work in the long run. But, right now, in the eleventh hour… Gordon just wasn’t sure if they had the time.
“And what exactly do you intend to do with the evidence you compile or your father if you catch him in the act?”
For her part, Stephanie acknowledged the weakness in their plan. “I’m… not quite sure. Originally, we were going to come back to you and have you take over from there since you’ve done this thing before. Ideally, I’d want to find an uncorrupt cop or federal agent who will treat my father fairly and keep him from getting assassinated by one of his conspirators.”
Spinning around in her chair, Gordon reached into her desk to pull out a USB drive. “Stephanie, I need you to insert this into your father’s computer or computers. I’d also like you to try to get access to his –“
“Phones?” Stephanie leaned over Gordon’s chair and dropped two drives and a device that recorded everything from the untraceable pre-paid phone she had bugged in the middle of the night before her father had left for Opal City. “Already done it. Bugged my house line, my dad’s cells – including the one I found hidden – even my mom’s. We didn’t really sleep last night. Well… they didn’t. I was dead on my feet helping them after all those meds you had me on. Cass even managed to slip a tracer and a bug on a few of his boxers seeing how that’s the one thing he likely won’t change when he dresses up like Cluemaster.”
Gordon was stunned into silence for all of a second. “I’m not sure I would have thought of the boxers…”
“Who thinks of changing underwear when your costume is a suit?”
“Fair point.” Gordon brought up a feed from the historic district less than twenty minutes old. “I’m under the impression your father wants to get caught else he is extremely suicidal. Right as your school let out, he flew around with the gravity rod, showering city hall with the same flyer he left on Jessie.” She zoomed in on one of them. “Out of curiosity, do any of you recognize this symbol?”
“Aquista family crest,” answered Beth without missing a beat. “My mom and I have been invited over to Henry Aquista’s mansion a few times. It’s right there over the doorway.”
“Correct.” Their teacher focused on Stephanie. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“I don’t want my father to get himself killed. I’ll do anything to stop it.”
“Finish suiting up then. We have cameras to place, a shield to find, and your father to follow.”
Charlie was all smiles when she reappeared after a quick puff of pink smoke. She held in her hands the four raincoats once more and started to pass them out. The other three narrowed their eyes as they each took one. They were not your usual raincoats.
Not black or yellow or even clear.
They were purple.
---
The shield was found easily enough. Gordon looked up the Aquista bank records for the various members of the family as well as their personal hobbies and after a quick reconnaissance of each of Harold – the head of the family and uncle to one of Charlie’s classmates – Aquista’s residences with a scanner designed by Gordon’s father and Ted Knight by Stephanie, they found a residual signature of the metal used to create the Guardian’s shield at his spring home off the Gotham River. During those three hours, Cassie trailed Arthur Brown in her new costume across the roofs while Beth followed him down the streets, changing disguise so often by simply switching hairstyle or reversing her jacket and sometimes putting on various pairs of glasses. They tracked his movements to places frequented by Mark Security forces and those who worked for Desmond family.
It became apparent based on some other agents and informants Gordon had that the theft would be the easiest Cluemaster would attempt. Stephanie reasoned that to be the reason for the over the top, obvious clue. After all, who did the rich hire for protection if not Mark Securities?
The Aquistas knew he was coming for the shield. Harold’s brother Henry, a city councilman, was already in the process of making arrangements for heightened security and a transport detail but it would be at least two days before they could move it according to Gordon. It would be bad for them to be discovered with the shield which would be easy to disprove yet draw unwanted attention if the Cluemaster managed to reach his target. A piece of paper with a crest on it was not enough for the BPD to act on. A break in that would likely have armed fire… impossible to ignore. The same would be said if they suddenly had armored vehicle show up at their home to take the shield away immediately after the papers were dropped.
Anything less was just asking for Cluemaster to take them on the road.
Better for him to come to them.
On their turf.
Given the amount of guns and men that were starting to appear, Gordon almost called the girls in. Yet before she could, Charlie and Steph had infiltrated the mansion, jumping about the various rooms. Only two almost discoveries and Stephanie had figured out their pattern in security that her father would almost certainly make use of given the fact he was working with Mark Securities in some form and would allow Cassandra to come back on plant the camstrips in the more high profile places while they handled the bugs.
Camstrips… Little clear strips thin as paper and all but undetectable. Highly sophisticated circuitry with a burst every hour at different intervals that would send recordings back to Watchtower. Cass set a few up around the vault the shield was now hidden within and with the help of Charlie, even inside it. Right on top of the Guardian’s shield.
And of course, Gordon tapped into Aquista’s own security network.
They’d spoil the lives of at least two criminals with any luck and recover a national treasure belonging to a lost hero.
~~~
That night, Stephanie managed to convince her mother to let her sleep over at Beth’s house by providing a suitable start to the non-fictional research paper not due until December. The paper in reality was Beth’s from last year dumbed down to Steph’s level with a descent amount of sources already sited. Unfortunately, when Gordon found out, she swore when this was over, she’d watch Stephanie like a hawk while she wrote the paper on her own. Beth understandably didn’t need an excuse since her mother was already out of town now that the cameras were not rolling and Cass would sneak out like she always did later on.
They took shifts of sleeping on cots down in Watchtower while others kept an eye on people and places of interest. Gordon already had a decent detective lined up who apparently had a brother in the DA’s office who was relatively uncorrupted as well for them to bring the evidence to. Then one of the members of her Oracle network had connections to get the state police to move in on Aquista’s home after the crap hit the fan.
Everything looked good.
Jade showed up sometime after midnight Blüdhaven time. Introductions were made all around and then she took over most of the observation duty since she didn’t need sleep the same way they did. For someone who rushed headfirst to fight giant monsters, she didn’t complain about being told what to do by Gordon.
Only one cell phone rang throughout the night and the next day. Stephanie hit ignore every time much to her regret.
---
A figure in red approached the spring home of Harold Aquista. It was a new outfit. Gone was the hat and bandana. He was cloaked in hooded crimson. His coat loaded with the various pellets and bombs that had proved so useful against the Flash in Opal City yesterday. A mask slipped up over his chin, an extension of the new armored body suit he had on. Alone… he radiated the heart of arrogance. This was a man who had stolen from the greatest heroes of America. A man who had taken down the Flash. Who needed a crew? Who needed henchmen? He faced no one important. Nobodies.
Nobodies except for his own men. There on the inside. All part of his – and the Calculator’s – plans.
On time, the power shut off. He strode boldly across the perimeter. He was the figure of ultimate unconcern. Nightvision goggles flashed but did not see him. Lights from the end of assault rifles spread out but somehow missed him. He knew the right path to avoid their line of sight.
And when he hit the circular driveway right next to the garden, the real fun started. Two grenades were tossed to blast open the front doors and knock those inside back, smashed by the giant wooden splinters. A throw later he added both stink and smoke bombs followed. Right on time, Mark Security came upon him from their search of the yard. A three-sixty spin sent a set of electrical disks sliding across the drive and into the grass. The sparking discharge left them incapacitated, not dead.
Boldly he walked through the front door.
Aquista’s men were there to meet him. He didn’t hesitate before using lethal force on them. The twinge of regret filled his stomach, threatening to release bile from up his throat. He watched them scream in horror as fire consumed them. There was nothing he could do… It was for his family. And these men were criminals. They were paid with money bought in blood.
Now came the trickier part. He’d have to maim a Cain soldier. Wouldn’t do to weaken the Aquistas but leave the top notch security force unharmed. He bypassed the main halls to the vault. A library was his destination. He left a trip wire outside in the hall and a mine in the doorway. Barely did he grimace as he placed the high-temperature strips of explosives in a square right where the desk used to be when the tripwire went off and all he could hear were screams. Not a blink when a man with a gun had a bead on him only to step on the mine and be flash-frozen instantly, blocking the entryway.
The square strips burned through the library’s floor first then through basement floors as it leaked through. He dropped a cooling agent that doubled as foam through the hole before he followed suit, landing gently. As expected was a line of Mark Security. Apologizing inwardly for their sacrifice, he threw an explosive boomerang he had reverse engineered at the man in front. It impaled itself between his goggles and before his men could fire, it went off.
The red man leaned downward as limbs and viscera rained down upon his cloak. His target, the vault was less than ten feet away. To give himself time, he took three steps away from the hole he made to pop open a capsule and drop it to the ground. Beautifully, a wall made up of a durable alloy grew from wall to wall all the way up to the ceiling.
Down here, as he deduced from the plans, there was still power. Harold would have to keep it on a separate generator. Good. He approached the vault and began using the strange device Calculator had given him to bypass its security. He tried to ignore the gunshots on other side of his wall. The pop popping of impact and flesh tearing… Flesh tearing. His lips twisted down in a frown.
The vault clicked and opened to reveal a horde of wealth. He didn’t care for the wealth. He had eyes only for the golden shield. The Guardian’s Shield. A marvelous symbol of defense of liberty and democracy once wielded by Jake Jordon if his theory was right and they always were.
“That’s far enough, Cluemaster,” rang a familiar voice from behind him. Strange, he didn’t hear his block falling apart.
Arthur Brown twisted around, his hand ready to release a sonic device quickly followed by whatever he deemed necessary as a follow up. It wasn’t who he expected. A figure stood in a puff of pink smoke, cloaked much like him. Black body suit, big hooded cloak. In the dim lighting, he blinked a few times and realized that it was a purple raincoat. Unusual.
“You’re not the Red Hood.”
“No. I’m not. I’m a… friend.” The voice was eerily familiar to him and his particular gift started to place it. “You don’t want to do this. Whatever they have on you, for whatever reason they turned you into a murderer, I can help you get out. I can help keep your family safe.”
“No you can’t.” Before Arthur could throw his sonic device, the purple figure released its own smoke pellet, filling the small space with a wretched smelling gas.
Suddenly, fingers dug into his kidney from behind him. Far too quickly for Purple to have done it. His feet were swept out from beneath him and he felt a hand on the back of his head, slamming his face into the floor, breaking his nose and leaving him stunned. Dazed but still going, he flipped over, the figure in purple surprisingly light. He jumped off Arthur and as the latter tried to stand, a snap kick sent him propelling into the wall. A side kick sent him bouncing off his artificial wall into the waiting fist of Mr. Purple.
So quick. So fast.
Arthur tried to dig a pellet out of his coat when his wall exploded, showering him in debris. He looked up to see a hall lined with corpses and only one man left standing. The man was exactly who he feared it to be. Wrapped in red bandages or ribbons across his head and arms, the criminal underworld were never quite sure which, and wielding twin scarlet pistols, it was the Red Hood in his signature trench coat with the collar popped. He had one gun pointed at Arthur’s head.
“There’s only room for one man in red in the Haven, Cluemaster.”
A second before the shot was fired; Arthur was dragged by his feet out of the way, leaving the bullet to ricochet off the floor instead of his brain matter. Red Hood noticed for the first time the Purple Hood. His aim was adjusted only Purple was ready. The Guardian’s shield protected both Arthur and his savior or enemy – he wasn’t quite sure which. A break in the fire as the Red Hood had to dodge his own bouncing rounds gave Purple the opening he needed. The gold triangle flew true straight into the Red Hood’s chest, propelling him backwards and to the floor of the bleeding.
But the Red Hood was not to be done that easily. As Purple released another smoke bomb, he fired one last shot and was satisfied to hear a scream of pain… Yet as the smoke cleared he was left alone with the dying security forces.
Sirens sounded from above. The Red Hood looked around him, screaming in frustration. He kicked the shield away from him and started his hasty retreat.
---
“Detective Flores, I have a package for you,” a phantom voice woke the young officer from her slumber, “Well, packages.”
Catalina twisted out of bed to grab her sidearm out of the bedside table only to find it missing. Her hand dove beneath her mattresses only to find that one missing as well. Standing there in a nearly shear tank top and low cut panties, she was practically defenseless. Definitely not a good feeling.
“There’s no need for that,” the voice said, “I’m a friend.” It had a modulated rhythm to it. Made it impossible for her to figure out the gender.
Catalina’s eyes slowly began to adjust to the darkness. In the corner of her bedroom leaned a cloaked figure barely 5’5. At its feet seemed to be a body. With no choice, she held up her hands in defeat. “You’re in control here, amigo.”
“I didn’t know how else to do this. I didn’t know who to trust.” The cloaked figure indicated the body at its feet. “This is Arthur Brown otherwise known as Cluemaster along with evidence indicating him and others in various crimes.”
“Others?”
“Even as we speak, the New Jersey State Police are moving in on Harold Aquista’s residence where they will find dead bodies, stolen government property and who knows what else. I dragged Brown from there before he could be found. A lot of people are going to want him dead once this gets out.”
Speechless. That’s what Catalina was. She gulped in a few breaths wishing she had her gun to feel some semblance of control. “Why me?”
“You and your brother were born and raised here in Blüdhaven. You’ve seen how corrupt it is. The police. The judicial system. The city council. Everywhere. And still, you both decided to serve, you in the police force; him as a public defender then as an ADA. If Brown is to be treated fairly and protected, then I know you’re the one for the job.”
The figure reached into its coat and Catalina tense but all it pulled out was some sort of injector. “This will counter the effects of the sleeping agent I gave Brown.” It set on the dresser, turning its back to Catalina. “I trust you will do the right thing.”
A puff of smoke. A cough from Catalina. And she saw her window open but Brown remaining. Catalina rushed towards the window and looked outside. Whoever it was was already gone.
---
They were a happy bunch down in Watchtower. Jade, Charlie, and Beth were all smiles and jokes. Of course, Gordon was still frowning. She continued to monitor the situation as the State Police taped up the season home, crime scene investigators poked and prodded, and Flores arranged safe, secure transport for Arthur Brown. Yet there were two other unhappy members of the celebration.
Cassandra Cain glared down at the floor, her shoulder taped up from where the Red Hood’s bullet went clean through. She could have dodged it but if she had, it would have hit Cluemaster. It was him or her. A glance over at Stephanie with her arms wrapped around her legs told Cass is was the right decision but it didn’t feel like it. One way or another, Stephanie would be sad.
“Let’s go with the Teen Titans!” exclaimed Charlie with bubbly laughter.
Jade had to roll her eyes at that. “I think that’s taken.”
“How bout the Outsiders?”
“Lame,” Beth muttered as she swirled her smoothie. “I’m a fan of the Outlaws, personally. We operate outside the law just like Robin Hood.”
The red head threw a burger wrapper at Beth in retaliation and more laughter. “Couldn’t the Outsiders mean that too?”
“Yeah,” Beth caught the wrapper and made a swish gesture after she tossed it in the trashcan five feet away, “but Outlaws is far more badass.”
There was a sound of sniffling that caught all their attention. Stephanie stood quickly and without a word. Her brisk steps took her to the elevator leading up to Gordon’s home. After a second, Cassie followed suit, leaving the other three ashamed about their reactions.
---
The man of Beth’s dreams was thousands of miles and oceans away yet his gorgeous gray eyes were meeting hers with such love from the monitor before her. Skype. Such a wondrous invention. Her happiness of taking down a few armed guards could only grow now that she finally had a chance to speak to Tom. Too bad she couldn’t brag to him about it. Gordon had been very keen about them never talking about it.
Private Thomas Tinker matched her smile with the earnestness only a boy scout could maintain. He had been her boyfriend for years, much to her mother’s displeasure, and at the urging of her cousin Kate, he enlisted in the military to get out of Blüdhaven and to aim for a better future. A future where he could hopefully be more than some trophy boytoy to Beth.
He absolutely loved her. Adored her. Thought she was a goddess. Beth… wasn’t sure if she could match the feelings. He had been a constant in her life. Never expected her to excel. Didn’t pressure her. He was just there for her with love and adoration; a figure in her life who never missed a single match or recital until he enlisted and was called overseas. So while she didn’t know if she loved him in the same way, she certainly was in love with the attention he gave her. That meant more to her than anything.
“I missed you two days ago. You missed me yesterday,” his smile somehow seemed to stretch to his brown crewcut hair. “Bout time, Miss Elizabeth.”
“Shut up.”
“Miss me?”
Beth scoffed. “As if. You know me. Life is never boring when your mother is a reality star.”
“Liar.”
For a few seconds they were silent. Beth was content to let it stay that way. The high she was on from her weekend stayed with her as his eyes traveled across her body. She hoped this feeling of exhilaration would never end.
“So…” Tom began, stroking his chin as if he wasn’t sure if he should tell her. “I’m coming home in a few weeks. Finally have leave lined up. Out of the desert and hopefully into the snow, right?”
Her gaze watched his strong firm jaw and she remembered its feel as it was buried against her neck, as his lips traveled down her collarbone. Yes. This feeling could get better. Lust filled adrenalin… If only she could find a way…
“Beth? Sweetie?”
“Huh?” her bangs fell across her face as she shook her head back to the present.
“I said out of the desert and hopefully into the snow.”
She smiled sinisterly, her eyes narrowing. “I told you we’re not doing that again. It was far too chilly if you catch my drift.”
They passed there next few moments in pointless chitchat, his loving eyes never leaving her. She talked, she answered his questions and had her own. The whole time she wished she could tell him the full truth but for now, she’d live with the rush his adulation filled her with.
---
It had been a few weeks since the incident at the Aquistas. Since then, Gordon had taken to training the girls. They worked well together, she said. And Stephanie had a knack for leadership. In reality, Steph had seen the fear and lack of sureness in Gordon’s eyes. Their teacher knew if she didn’t take them under her wing then Charlie might rebel and Beth would get herself killed looking for a cheap thrill. Besides, the three girls seem to have a fantastic effect on Cass. The former Blackbat slowly came out of her shell now that she had friends or two friends and at least an ally in Beth’s case.
It had been the same amount of time since Stephanie had seen her father. She could still remember how he looked when she handed him over to Detective Flores… how it ate at heart. But it had to be done. She’d seen those bodies. Sure, they were mobmen or worked for a crooked boss in general yet they were people. Her father had killed them.
What’s more, she was confident he had killed them to protect his family from someone called Blockbuster and David Cain.
Gordon arranged the meeting between father and daughter through her contacts. Stephanie had thanked her profusely. Now she was here, looking at her father from across the glass.
Arthur had healed reasonably since his beating at the hands of Cass. He may have been skilled at using his various bombs and pellets and whatever devices but he was no match for the hoodie-ninja. Doubt filled Steph’s mind if anyone was. Her body was sore from all the sparring sessions with the little Asian.
“Stephanie, I’ve missed you.”
“Dad…”
For some reason, she couldn’t meet his gaze. She stared somewhere around his nose. Her nose. Was her nose really that big? She couldn’t focus. This moment was weeks in the making and she was struck speechless.
“I’m sure you’re probably ashamed of me,” her father stated, his tone soft and filled with regret.
Still staring at his nose, Steph had to admit she was ashamed but if felt like she was ashamed at herself. “It’s not that…” her voice choked off, her heart in her throat. “Why… Why’d you do it?”
“You know that’s not how the game is played, sweetie. You have to figure it out on your own.”
“THIS ISN’T A GAME!” she screamed, echoing about the small room.
“Everything is a game. We all play at life and hope we get it right,” he smiled morosely… her smile. “I happened to get it wrong.”
Stephanie took a few deep breaths. She wiped the tears away from her cheeks. And finally, she failed at trying to control herself. “Just tell me! Tell me why you did it. N-no more clues. Truth. Only.”
“Truth. . . Is a point of view,” quoted her father. “But I suppose my point view is… I was curious. I wanted to know how all these superheroes and villains did what they did. So I figured it out. You know I always thought the Justice Society of America were my heroes. As a boy, I wanted be one of them. As a grown man… a rich, quite wealthy man… I had the means to do so. And others found out.”
“Y-you… you wanted to be a hero so you started murdering people?!?” screeched Stephanie in complete and utter disbelief.
Arthur looked down at his hands, choosing his next words quite carefully. “I did what I could to stop short of killing people. I always used nonlethal, always had my men do the same until… What I did that night, it’s horrible. I have nightmares of blood raining down on me. But… But.” He faltered. “There’s no excuse. I did what I had to. It’s all for the bigger picture.”
The obvious words were left unsaid. Stephanie knew he wouldn’t admit to killing people to save his family. That even now, behind bars, he was waiting for some thug to come stab him in the back to keep him quiet. He wouldn’t guilt her with that knowledge.
“That’s your story?”
“Maybe. I’m sure you’ll figure it out, eventually.” There was a twinkle in his eye right above the tears.
Stephanie glared at him, biting her lip. She wanted to hit him, to lash out, to call him an idiot. There was so much they could have done. He was smart, intelligent. If he had wanted to, he could have packed up the family and they could have escaped to some island in the middle of nowhere. But he didn’t.
There was silence between them. Arthur was willing to wait his daughter out. After all, he had nothing but time on his hands until his bar of soap turned out to be a bomb.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Arthur gave her a knowing grin before matching her earlier gesture and wiping his face.
“That would be a spoiler.”
Under the Purple Hood Pt 6
Spoilers!!!
Outside City Hall, Historic District of Blüdhaven
The tiny iPhone almost found itself crushed into even smaller pieces by the tight grip of Jason Todd. He stood on the steps all but ignored by the comings and goings of the people around him. They possessed enough shame and fear to avert their gazes as they passed him. It was okay to him. He ignored them as well. They were beneath him; pawns in a game on a board they never knew existed.
Why would she do that? Why would she refuse him?
It wasn’t narcissism that made him question. Nor was it jealousy. It was fear. Stephanie’s curiosity, her sense of good and righteousness, her… love of her father was going to get her killed. That last realization made him rethink the jealousy denial.
Sighing, Jason put the phone in his jacket pocket before he could smash it. Choosing to be his own man while simultaneously stepping up into his so-called destiny was putting a serious dent in his wallet. He couldn’t afford to continue to spend openly on his daily life else his nightlife would probably come to a painful end.
He waited at the crosswalk next to a pretty twenty-something brunette – either someone’s daughter or mistress – in a miniskirt and tight leggings while a bunch of bureaucrats on their way home kept their distance from him. The young woman, he took a second peak to confirm she was cute and winked at her, opened her mouth to probably return the flirtatious gesture when a sheet of paper blew across the street and plastered itself across her face. Her gasp of surprise nearly caused her to swallow it whole. Impressive.
All about them rained down tiny bits of paper like confetti from a parade, showering the historic district and causing vehicles to screech to a halt. Above soared a red blur holding a glowing rod; the source of the impromptu littering. People watched – they got out of their cars and turned eyes upward – as the blur rained more and more down upon them, circling every few seconds.
Anger beat within Jason’s heart. Disbelief pumped throughout his arteries. The man had a death wish. Just like his daughter.
Jason snatched one of the sheets out of the air. Upon it was nothing more than a golden shield; a shield bearing a three legged lion as heraldry over a wave meant to represent water. He crushed the paper and put it in his pocket alongside his phone.
With the walk sign flashing despite no one paying attention, Jason crossed towards the parking garage where his bike was located… but not before he had one last look at city hall. He too turned his eyes upwards and saw exactly what he expected to see. A dark haired man on one of the upper floors of the turn of the century designed building had reached out of his window to grab a piece for himself. Furious eyes, a match for Jason’s own, observed Cluemaster’s retreat before turning downward and searching.
Jason had been trained too well. He finished crossing the street without running, without haste. This was going to be own hell of a gamble
---
It was a repeat of the night before except Gordon’s glare was primarily focused on Charlie and to a lesser extent Cassandra than it was on Stephanie. She tapped the arms of her wheelchair in obvious annoyance at the task at hand. Her mouth opened more than once to start to berate them but she just as quickly closed it. Finally, she sighed, put her hands together in her lap and turned the mean teacher stare on Stephanie only.
“I know I can’t stop you. The four of you make that obvious,” a knowing nod towards Cass, “and I’m quickly running out of time, choices, and the energy needed to fight you so I’ll make the four of you a deal. I shall let three of you work this case providing you follow my direction. Understood?”
A chorus of three “yes ma’ams” came from the girls. The fourth was a loud ‘what’ exclaimed by Charlie. Given their relationship, she knew Gordon was singling her out from the case. And she was handling it like a spoiled child.
“You’re too young,” responded her guardian quite calmly and meeting those furious eyes.
“Too young?” Charlie’s voice lacked all its traditional rainbows and gumdrops and unicorns cadence to it. “Steph and Cass are only a year older than me. Beth has no reason to be here other than she can drive. Besides, I can evade security like no one else!”
“Apparently not good enough,” muttered Beth under her breath.
Gordon waited for the tantrum to finish. She kept her palms together on her lap, lips a thin line of disproval. “Be that as it may, Cassandra is a trained assassin,” despite the impromptu twists of the head to stare from the two blonds, she continued uninterrupted, “Stephanie has all the abilities of her father, and Beth is an Olympic level athlete and nearly a genius with –“
It happened in an instant. Beth hooked her leg between Charlie and pulled with all her might to catch the younger girl’s arm in a lock behind head. It was a feat of skill, strength and precision for Beth to stop her nose an inch from the ground, holding the girl steady.
Stephanie blinked in disbelief. She hadn’t seen that coming or known Beth to be capable of it. On the other hand, Cassandra remained unimpressed with the showmanship.
“My father didn’t raise weak daughters,” Beth answered the unasked question as she let Charlie back up.
“Thank you, Beth.” The following pause from Gordon was only long enough for her ward to calm herself. “In the field, Cassandra will take point. The other two will provide support if needed. Otherwise you’ll be here at base with me. Yes, Stephanie?”
“Actually, we already came up with a plan.”
“Oh? Do tell…”
It was difficult to detect if that was sarcasm or not. “We already knew Cass is the only one of us who knows what she’s doing. We’re not completely suicidal, my actions last night notwithstanding. But even with the lenses Charlie provided us,” the girl was too frustrated to be flustered at her theft being revealed, “she can’t always look in the right place for me to see what I need to see. So we decided that it’s going to take all of us working as a team, not as individuals, to bring my dad in and prevent whoever he’s working for from killing him.
“If he’s on the move, Cass or Beth will shadow him. If he’s still. I come in. I listen to his words. I pay attention to my surroundings. I try to find weakpoints in his security detail. That sort of thing. But, and this is important, we need Charlie to make it work.” Stephanie laid a reassuring hand on the girl in question’s shoulder. “There won’t be three or four of us out there. There will be only one. If someone gets hurt or can’t handle it, Charlie bamfs in and replaces her with someone else.”
Gordon had the good grace to look pensive. She leaned back in her chair, once more taking in the resolve in each of the girls’ eyes. There was nothing innately wrong with the plan. And it could definitely work in the long run. But, right now, in the eleventh hour… Gordon just wasn’t sure if they had the time.
“And what exactly do you intend to do with the evidence you compile or your father if you catch him in the act?”
For her part, Stephanie acknowledged the weakness in their plan. “I’m… not quite sure. Originally, we were going to come back to you and have you take over from there since you’ve done this thing before. Ideally, I’d want to find an uncorrupt cop or federal agent who will treat my father fairly and keep him from getting assassinated by one of his conspirators.”
Spinning around in her chair, Gordon reached into her desk to pull out a USB drive. “Stephanie, I need you to insert this into your father’s computer or computers. I’d also like you to try to get access to his –“
“Phones?” Stephanie leaned over Gordon’s chair and dropped two drives and a device that recorded everything from the untraceable pre-paid phone she had bugged in the middle of the night before her father had left for Opal City. “Already done it. Bugged my house line, my dad’s cells – including the one I found hidden – even my mom’s. We didn’t really sleep last night. Well… they didn’t. I was dead on my feet helping them after all those meds you had me on. Cass even managed to slip a tracer and a bug on a few of his boxers seeing how that’s the one thing he likely won’t change when he dresses up like Cluemaster.”
Gordon was stunned into silence for all of a second. “I’m not sure I would have thought of the boxers…”
“Who thinks of changing underwear when your costume is a suit?”
“Fair point.” Gordon brought up a feed from the historic district less than twenty minutes old. “I’m under the impression your father wants to get caught else he is extremely suicidal. Right as your school let out, he flew around with the gravity rod, showering city hall with the same flyer he left on Jessie.” She zoomed in on one of them. “Out of curiosity, do any of you recognize this symbol?”
“Aquista family crest,” answered Beth without missing a beat. “My mom and I have been invited over to Henry Aquista’s mansion a few times. It’s right there over the doorway.”
“Correct.” Their teacher focused on Stephanie. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“I don’t want my father to get himself killed. I’ll do anything to stop it.”
“Finish suiting up then. We have cameras to place, a shield to find, and your father to follow.”
Charlie was all smiles when she reappeared after a quick puff of pink smoke. She held in her hands the four raincoats once more and started to pass them out. The other three narrowed their eyes as they each took one. They were not your usual raincoats.
Not black or yellow or even clear.
They were purple.
---
The shield was found easily enough. Gordon looked up the Aquista bank records for the various members of the family as well as their personal hobbies and after a quick reconnaissance of each of Harold – the head of the family and uncle to one of Charlie’s classmates – Aquista’s residences with a scanner designed by Gordon’s father and Ted Knight by Stephanie, they found a residual signature of the metal used to create the Guardian’s shield at his spring home off the Gotham River. During those three hours, Cassie trailed Arthur Brown in her new costume across the roofs while Beth followed him down the streets, changing disguise so often by simply switching hairstyle or reversing her jacket and sometimes putting on various pairs of glasses. They tracked his movements to places frequented by Mark Security forces and those who worked for Desmond family.
It became apparent based on some other agents and informants Gordon had that the theft would be the easiest Cluemaster would attempt. Stephanie reasoned that to be the reason for the over the top, obvious clue. After all, who did the rich hire for protection if not Mark Securities?
The Aquistas knew he was coming for the shield. Harold’s brother Henry, a city councilman, was already in the process of making arrangements for heightened security and a transport detail but it would be at least two days before they could move it according to Gordon. It would be bad for them to be discovered with the shield which would be easy to disprove yet draw unwanted attention if the Cluemaster managed to reach his target. A piece of paper with a crest on it was not enough for the BPD to act on. A break in that would likely have armed fire… impossible to ignore. The same would be said if they suddenly had armored vehicle show up at their home to take the shield away immediately after the papers were dropped.
Anything less was just asking for Cluemaster to take them on the road.
Better for him to come to them.
On their turf.
Given the amount of guns and men that were starting to appear, Gordon almost called the girls in. Yet before she could, Charlie and Steph had infiltrated the mansion, jumping about the various rooms. Only two almost discoveries and Stephanie had figured out their pattern in security that her father would almost certainly make use of given the fact he was working with Mark Securities in some form and would allow Cassandra to come back on plant the camstrips in the more high profile places while they handled the bugs.
Camstrips… Little clear strips thin as paper and all but undetectable. Highly sophisticated circuitry with a burst every hour at different intervals that would send recordings back to Watchtower. Cass set a few up around the vault the shield was now hidden within and with the help of Charlie, even inside it. Right on top of the Guardian’s shield.
And of course, Gordon tapped into Aquista’s own security network.
They’d spoil the lives of at least two criminals with any luck and recover a national treasure belonging to a lost hero.
~~~
That night, Stephanie managed to convince her mother to let her sleep over at Beth’s house by providing a suitable start to the non-fictional research paper not due until December. The paper in reality was Beth’s from last year dumbed down to Steph’s level with a descent amount of sources already sited. Unfortunately, when Gordon found out, she swore when this was over, she’d watch Stephanie like a hawk while she wrote the paper on her own. Beth understandably didn’t need an excuse since her mother was already out of town now that the cameras were not rolling and Cass would sneak out like she always did later on.
They took shifts of sleeping on cots down in Watchtower while others kept an eye on people and places of interest. Gordon already had a decent detective lined up who apparently had a brother in the DA’s office who was relatively uncorrupted as well for them to bring the evidence to. Then one of the members of her Oracle network had connections to get the state police to move in on Aquista’s home after the crap hit the fan.
Everything looked good.
Jade showed up sometime after midnight Blüdhaven time. Introductions were made all around and then she took over most of the observation duty since she didn’t need sleep the same way they did. For someone who rushed headfirst to fight giant monsters, she didn’t complain about being told what to do by Gordon.
Only one cell phone rang throughout the night and the next day. Stephanie hit ignore every time much to her regret.
---
A figure in red approached the spring home of Harold Aquista. It was a new outfit. Gone was the hat and bandana. He was cloaked in hooded crimson. His coat loaded with the various pellets and bombs that had proved so useful against the Flash in Opal City yesterday. A mask slipped up over his chin, an extension of the new armored body suit he had on. Alone… he radiated the heart of arrogance. This was a man who had stolen from the greatest heroes of America. A man who had taken down the Flash. Who needed a crew? Who needed henchmen? He faced no one important. Nobodies.
Nobodies except for his own men. There on the inside. All part of his – and the Calculator’s – plans.
On time, the power shut off. He strode boldly across the perimeter. He was the figure of ultimate unconcern. Nightvision goggles flashed but did not see him. Lights from the end of assault rifles spread out but somehow missed him. He knew the right path to avoid their line of sight.
And when he hit the circular driveway right next to the garden, the real fun started. Two grenades were tossed to blast open the front doors and knock those inside back, smashed by the giant wooden splinters. A throw later he added both stink and smoke bombs followed. Right on time, Mark Security came upon him from their search of the yard. A three-sixty spin sent a set of electrical disks sliding across the drive and into the grass. The sparking discharge left them incapacitated, not dead.
Boldly he walked through the front door.
Aquista’s men were there to meet him. He didn’t hesitate before using lethal force on them. The twinge of regret filled his stomach, threatening to release bile from up his throat. He watched them scream in horror as fire consumed them. There was nothing he could do… It was for his family. And these men were criminals. They were paid with money bought in blood.
Now came the trickier part. He’d have to maim a Cain soldier. Wouldn’t do to weaken the Aquistas but leave the top notch security force unharmed. He bypassed the main halls to the vault. A library was his destination. He left a trip wire outside in the hall and a mine in the doorway. Barely did he grimace as he placed the high-temperature strips of explosives in a square right where the desk used to be when the tripwire went off and all he could hear were screams. Not a blink when a man with a gun had a bead on him only to step on the mine and be flash-frozen instantly, blocking the entryway.
The square strips burned through the library’s floor first then through basement floors as it leaked through. He dropped a cooling agent that doubled as foam through the hole before he followed suit, landing gently. As expected was a line of Mark Security. Apologizing inwardly for their sacrifice, he threw an explosive boomerang he had reverse engineered at the man in front. It impaled itself between his goggles and before his men could fire, it went off.
The red man leaned downward as limbs and viscera rained down upon his cloak. His target, the vault was less than ten feet away. To give himself time, he took three steps away from the hole he made to pop open a capsule and drop it to the ground. Beautifully, a wall made up of a durable alloy grew from wall to wall all the way up to the ceiling.
Down here, as he deduced from the plans, there was still power. Harold would have to keep it on a separate generator. Good. He approached the vault and began using the strange device Calculator had given him to bypass its security. He tried to ignore the gunshots on other side of his wall. The pop popping of impact and flesh tearing… Flesh tearing. His lips twisted down in a frown.
The vault clicked and opened to reveal a horde of wealth. He didn’t care for the wealth. He had eyes only for the golden shield. The Guardian’s Shield. A marvelous symbol of defense of liberty and democracy once wielded by Jake Jordon if his theory was right and they always were.
“That’s far enough, Cluemaster,” rang a familiar voice from behind him. Strange, he didn’t hear his block falling apart.
Arthur Brown twisted around, his hand ready to release a sonic device quickly followed by whatever he deemed necessary as a follow up. It wasn’t who he expected. A figure stood in a puff of pink smoke, cloaked much like him. Black body suit, big hooded cloak. In the dim lighting, he blinked a few times and realized that it was a purple raincoat. Unusual.
“You’re not the Red Hood.”
“No. I’m not. I’m a… friend.” The voice was eerily familiar to him and his particular gift started to place it. “You don’t want to do this. Whatever they have on you, for whatever reason they turned you into a murderer, I can help you get out. I can help keep your family safe.”
“No you can’t.” Before Arthur could throw his sonic device, the purple figure released its own smoke pellet, filling the small space with a wretched smelling gas.
Suddenly, fingers dug into his kidney from behind him. Far too quickly for Purple to have done it. His feet were swept out from beneath him and he felt a hand on the back of his head, slamming his face into the floor, breaking his nose and leaving him stunned. Dazed but still going, he flipped over, the figure in purple surprisingly light. He jumped off Arthur and as the latter tried to stand, a snap kick sent him propelling into the wall. A side kick sent him bouncing off his artificial wall into the waiting fist of Mr. Purple.
So quick. So fast.
Arthur tried to dig a pellet out of his coat when his wall exploded, showering him in debris. He looked up to see a hall lined with corpses and only one man left standing. The man was exactly who he feared it to be. Wrapped in red bandages or ribbons across his head and arms, the criminal underworld were never quite sure which, and wielding twin scarlet pistols, it was the Red Hood in his signature trench coat with the collar popped. He had one gun pointed at Arthur’s head.
“There’s only room for one man in red in the Haven, Cluemaster.”
A second before the shot was fired; Arthur was dragged by his feet out of the way, leaving the bullet to ricochet off the floor instead of his brain matter. Red Hood noticed for the first time the Purple Hood. His aim was adjusted only Purple was ready. The Guardian’s shield protected both Arthur and his savior or enemy – he wasn’t quite sure which. A break in the fire as the Red Hood had to dodge his own bouncing rounds gave Purple the opening he needed. The gold triangle flew true straight into the Red Hood’s chest, propelling him backwards and to the floor of the bleeding.
But the Red Hood was not to be done that easily. As Purple released another smoke bomb, he fired one last shot and was satisfied to hear a scream of pain… Yet as the smoke cleared he was left alone with the dying security forces.
Sirens sounded from above. The Red Hood looked around him, screaming in frustration. He kicked the shield away from him and started his hasty retreat.
---
“Detective Flores, I have a package for you,” a phantom voice woke the young officer from her slumber, “Well, packages.”
Catalina twisted out of bed to grab her sidearm out of the bedside table only to find it missing. Her hand dove beneath her mattresses only to find that one missing as well. Standing there in a nearly shear tank top and low cut panties, she was practically defenseless. Definitely not a good feeling.
“There’s no need for that,” the voice said, “I’m a friend.” It had a modulated rhythm to it. Made it impossible for her to figure out the gender.
Catalina’s eyes slowly began to adjust to the darkness. In the corner of her bedroom leaned a cloaked figure barely 5’5. At its feet seemed to be a body. With no choice, she held up her hands in defeat. “You’re in control here, amigo.”
“I didn’t know how else to do this. I didn’t know who to trust.” The cloaked figure indicated the body at its feet. “This is Arthur Brown otherwise known as Cluemaster along with evidence indicating him and others in various crimes.”
“Others?”
“Even as we speak, the New Jersey State Police are moving in on Harold Aquista’s residence where they will find dead bodies, stolen government property and who knows what else. I dragged Brown from there before he could be found. A lot of people are going to want him dead once this gets out.”
Speechless. That’s what Catalina was. She gulped in a few breaths wishing she had her gun to feel some semblance of control. “Why me?”
“You and your brother were born and raised here in Blüdhaven. You’ve seen how corrupt it is. The police. The judicial system. The city council. Everywhere. And still, you both decided to serve, you in the police force; him as a public defender then as an ADA. If Brown is to be treated fairly and protected, then I know you’re the one for the job.”
The figure reached into its coat and Catalina tense but all it pulled out was some sort of injector. “This will counter the effects of the sleeping agent I gave Brown.” It set on the dresser, turning its back to Catalina. “I trust you will do the right thing.”
A puff of smoke. A cough from Catalina. And she saw her window open but Brown remaining. Catalina rushed towards the window and looked outside. Whoever it was was already gone.
---
They were a happy bunch down in Watchtower. Jade, Charlie, and Beth were all smiles and jokes. Of course, Gordon was still frowning. She continued to monitor the situation as the State Police taped up the season home, crime scene investigators poked and prodded, and Flores arranged safe, secure transport for Arthur Brown. Yet there were two other unhappy members of the celebration.
Cassandra Cain glared down at the floor, her shoulder taped up from where the Red Hood’s bullet went clean through. She could have dodged it but if she had, it would have hit Cluemaster. It was him or her. A glance over at Stephanie with her arms wrapped around her legs told Cass is was the right decision but it didn’t feel like it. One way or another, Stephanie would be sad.
“Let’s go with the Teen Titans!” exclaimed Charlie with bubbly laughter.
Jade had to roll her eyes at that. “I think that’s taken.”
“How bout the Outsiders?”
“Lame,” Beth muttered as she swirled her smoothie. “I’m a fan of the Outlaws, personally. We operate outside the law just like Robin Hood.”
The red head threw a burger wrapper at Beth in retaliation and more laughter. “Couldn’t the Outsiders mean that too?”
“Yeah,” Beth caught the wrapper and made a swish gesture after she tossed it in the trashcan five feet away, “but Outlaws is far more badass.”
There was a sound of sniffling that caught all their attention. Stephanie stood quickly and without a word. Her brisk steps took her to the elevator leading up to Gordon’s home. After a second, Cassie followed suit, leaving the other three ashamed about their reactions.
---
The man of Beth’s dreams was thousands of miles and oceans away yet his gorgeous gray eyes were meeting hers with such love from the monitor before her. Skype. Such a wondrous invention. Her happiness of taking down a few armed guards could only grow now that she finally had a chance to speak to Tom. Too bad she couldn’t brag to him about it. Gordon had been very keen about them never talking about it.
Private Thomas Tinker matched her smile with the earnestness only a boy scout could maintain. He had been her boyfriend for years, much to her mother’s displeasure, and at the urging of her cousin Kate, he enlisted in the military to get out of Blüdhaven and to aim for a better future. A future where he could hopefully be more than some trophy boytoy to Beth.
He absolutely loved her. Adored her. Thought she was a goddess. Beth… wasn’t sure if she could match the feelings. He had been a constant in her life. Never expected her to excel. Didn’t pressure her. He was just there for her with love and adoration; a figure in her life who never missed a single match or recital until he enlisted and was called overseas. So while she didn’t know if she loved him in the same way, she certainly was in love with the attention he gave her. That meant more to her than anything.
“I missed you two days ago. You missed me yesterday,” his smile somehow seemed to stretch to his brown crewcut hair. “Bout time, Miss Elizabeth.”
“Shut up.”
“Miss me?”
Beth scoffed. “As if. You know me. Life is never boring when your mother is a reality star.”
“Liar.”
For a few seconds they were silent. Beth was content to let it stay that way. The high she was on from her weekend stayed with her as his eyes traveled across her body. She hoped this feeling of exhilaration would never end.
“So…” Tom began, stroking his chin as if he wasn’t sure if he should tell her. “I’m coming home in a few weeks. Finally have leave lined up. Out of the desert and hopefully into the snow, right?”
Her gaze watched his strong firm jaw and she remembered its feel as it was buried against her neck, as his lips traveled down her collarbone. Yes. This feeling could get better. Lust filled adrenalin… If only she could find a way…
“Beth? Sweetie?”
“Huh?” her bangs fell across her face as she shook her head back to the present.
“I said out of the desert and hopefully into the snow.”
She smiled sinisterly, her eyes narrowing. “I told you we’re not doing that again. It was far too chilly if you catch my drift.”
They passed there next few moments in pointless chitchat, his loving eyes never leaving her. She talked, she answered his questions and had her own. The whole time she wished she could tell him the full truth but for now, she’d live with the rush his adulation filled her with.
---
It had been a few weeks since the incident at the Aquistas. Since then, Gordon had taken to training the girls. They worked well together, she said. And Stephanie had a knack for leadership. In reality, Steph had seen the fear and lack of sureness in Gordon’s eyes. Their teacher knew if she didn’t take them under her wing then Charlie might rebel and Beth would get herself killed looking for a cheap thrill. Besides, the three girls seem to have a fantastic effect on Cass. The former Blackbat slowly came out of her shell now that she had friends or two friends and at least an ally in Beth’s case.
It had been the same amount of time since Stephanie had seen her father. She could still remember how he looked when she handed him over to Detective Flores… how it ate at heart. But it had to be done. She’d seen those bodies. Sure, they were mobmen or worked for a crooked boss in general yet they were people. Her father had killed them.
What’s more, she was confident he had killed them to protect his family from someone called Blockbuster and David Cain.
Gordon arranged the meeting between father and daughter through her contacts. Stephanie had thanked her profusely. Now she was here, looking at her father from across the glass.
Arthur had healed reasonably since his beating at the hands of Cass. He may have been skilled at using his various bombs and pellets and whatever devices but he was no match for the hoodie-ninja. Doubt filled Steph’s mind if anyone was. Her body was sore from all the sparring sessions with the little Asian.
“Stephanie, I’ve missed you.”
“Dad…”
For some reason, she couldn’t meet his gaze. She stared somewhere around his nose. Her nose. Was her nose really that big? She couldn’t focus. This moment was weeks in the making and she was struck speechless.
“I’m sure you’re probably ashamed of me,” her father stated, his tone soft and filled with regret.
Still staring at his nose, Steph had to admit she was ashamed but if felt like she was ashamed at herself. “It’s not that…” her voice choked off, her heart in her throat. “Why… Why’d you do it?”
“You know that’s not how the game is played, sweetie. You have to figure it out on your own.”
“THIS ISN’T A GAME!” she screamed, echoing about the small room.
“Everything is a game. We all play at life and hope we get it right,” he smiled morosely… her smile. “I happened to get it wrong.”
Stephanie took a few deep breaths. She wiped the tears away from her cheeks. And finally, she failed at trying to control herself. “Just tell me! Tell me why you did it. N-no more clues. Truth. Only.”
“Truth. . . Is a point of view,” quoted her father. “But I suppose my point view is… I was curious. I wanted to know how all these superheroes and villains did what they did. So I figured it out. You know I always thought the Justice Society of America were my heroes. As a boy, I wanted be one of them. As a grown man… a rich, quite wealthy man… I had the means to do so. And others found out.”
“Y-you… you wanted to be a hero so you started murdering people?!?” screeched Stephanie in complete and utter disbelief.
Arthur looked down at his hands, choosing his next words quite carefully. “I did what I could to stop short of killing people. I always used nonlethal, always had my men do the same until… What I did that night, it’s horrible. I have nightmares of blood raining down on me. But… But.” He faltered. “There’s no excuse. I did what I had to. It’s all for the bigger picture.”
The obvious words were left unsaid. Stephanie knew he wouldn’t admit to killing people to save his family. That even now, behind bars, he was waiting for some thug to come stab him in the back to keep him quiet. He wouldn’t guilt her with that knowledge.
“That’s your story?”
“Maybe. I’m sure you’ll figure it out, eventually.” There was a twinkle in his eye right above the tears.
Stephanie glared at him, biting her lip. She wanted to hit him, to lash out, to call him an idiot. There was so much they could have done. He was smart, intelligent. If he had wanted to, he could have packed up the family and they could have escaped to some island in the middle of nowhere. But he didn’t.
There was silence between them. Arthur was willing to wait his daughter out. After all, he had nothing but time on his hands until his bar of soap turned out to be a bomb.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Arthur gave her a knowing grin before matching her earlier gesture and wiping his face.
“That would be a spoiler.”