Raven walked in the morning two days after and Wend gave her a small smile before handing her the paper to look over. Rooch's contract was simple, his rate would be almost half his usual since she would be the one gathering the information and evidence she would bring it back and he would advise her on what steps he would take. She agreed and before Wend in that tiny monitored room she signed the paper.
Wend nodded leaving Raven to talk to the investigator "So what should my first move be?"
In her mind she could see the office, dark, the only light from a small monitor that showed the view of the cameras as he laced his fingers and set his chin on them, the sleeves of his long coat hiding everything else with the darkness "If you met him at the concert what all do you have that would track a person?"
"We could go by tickets" she mused at the screen.
"Not entirely. It is true that many people could be traced but a name alone won't help us. That and many people bought their tickets with cash or were given them as a gift. What else can we use?"
"What about talking to those who were there?"
There was a negative grunt "It wouldn't be productive. You were in disguise and he was shadowed. Not to mention that many people weren't paying attention to anything other than their immediate surroundings and the music. This is a life lessoned that many people have given their entirety for so learn it well: people lie. Do not trust those that have not given you beyond a reason to."
Raven stared at the smile wishing that she could have the least bit of information about this 'Rooch' but she didn't and let out a sigh "Alright, then I'll ask, who do you trust?"
There wasn't even a moment's hesitation "I trust myself and Wend. At the moment that is all"
"Not even the Titans?"
"No, each of you has your own agenda, not to say I'm not thankful but even my clients who bare their souls to me are suspect. Everyone has their own views based on their own bias and the fact that humans always try to paint themselves in a better light." she could hear cloth rasp as it moved against another fabric "but back to our dilemma, what can you find that would prove you were there with another person?"
Rubbing her eyes the telekinetic breathed "A photo…no, not a photo, a video, but all the cameras were facing the stage"
As soon as she finished the thought he cut in "This is where I can advise. I know for a fact that, yes, many cameras are facing towards the bands on stage, but seventeen canvas the crowd for safety reasons. You should be able to ask the security for the tapes and find yourself and who you're searching for and I'll look over it and we can continue this discussion at another time."
Raven left with a feeling of anticipation deep in her gut, a hit of nervousness as she thought of finding the man, and last a swirl of relief-he was not only as good as Robin said, he was better.
In the darker side streets of the city where trash made certain areas impassable to cars, one man slowly stalked into the darkness an alley provided and looked at the four other men "The Boss says ta take'm down, he got too much info outta Toshi, can't trust em' no more"
One of the four shadows nodded and spoke in a voice so cultured that it belonged more at Harvard or Yale than in a filthy back street on the opposite coast "Of course, I told you this would happened. Tell your boss that it will be taken care of"
Another shadow with the same cultured tone then voiced the greatest quandary aloud "So who is it?"
Rooch quietly made his way back home, a small seemingly Lilliputian house that held many surprises to those worthy enough to make past the entrance. Yards of bandages unwound in a raspy song as the investigator opened the bar to pour himself a drink, the dark amber liquid seeming to follow his whims until the cork was returned and it's comforting salve locked away for yet another day. Slowly he rubbed his palm over the deep jagged wound in his side, though healed many years ago the pain was unbearable to him, every moment of his life the threat of being overwhelmed hovered over him.
The few cubes of ice jingled quietly as he swirled the glass, the only sound until he pressed a button and Bocelli's voice drifted quietly over the soft features of the room. The alcohol dulled the pain a touch before he lifted the glass to a picture on an end table with a candle, always lit and a growing orchid that sat on the table "Cheers detective"
The picture said nothing but the words that the man had said echoed in his head. Against his will a soft smile, like rock worn away over time and tamed by experience, appeared as he shook his head "You had a good run, and suddenly I find myself wondering if I'll have as good a reputation."
Raven had scanned the footage maybe a dozen times trying to locate herself and her mystery target in the crowd, but even knowing where she was the target managed to elude the surveillance. She was sure that the footage held nothing.
Rooch took it apart in mere minutes. 'I guess this is why I pay him' she mused as the smile was replaced by a screen shot. Her eyes widened as the film showed undoubtedly her as she had her legs wrapped around his waist and her face buried in his neck. Even through the filter she could hear the disappointment bleed into his voice "You neglected to say that you molested then kidnapped him"
Suddenly she felt as if his help was flying out the window faster than Beast Boy when he annoyed her "…I can only say that he is the other part of my soul. After I took him he seemed more than wholehearted in his…conquest"
There was a polished sigh "Ms. Roth, there are few men who could resist a woman such as yourself baiting them with sex. We are simply built. That's why sex shops litter so many side streets, it's profitable to play on the instincts of men." there was a silence that she feared would be the end of their arrangement "…but I understand that if he is the other part of your soul that you would want to keep him close. But a judge won't see it like that. Every argument could be made that this was molestation, kidnapping and rape. I will continue to help you find him with two new clauses. First you will tell me everything, half truths and unsaid words won't help us. Secondly when you find him and confront him you will abide by his wishes, if he doesn't want to be a part of your life then you will leave him in peace. Do you accept?"
It was a poisoned bait, that much she knew. If she said no then he wouldn't help her and her chances would be next to none. If she said yes then that left the entirety of her soul uneasy, if her mystery man didn't see her as his mate she would forever spend her days pining after him and try to win his attention, but this clause prevented that. Raven gritted her teeth "I agreed to your contract before and I will do so again"
"Approved, we will continue this tomorrow. But on a much lighter note Ms. Wend wanted to speak to you, as one woman to another as she put it, and since she will be off in a few moments and I myself must leave I thought it would be my duty as her employer to inform you. Good day" and the smile blinked off and Raven's brow arched at the final statement before she turned and walked out to see Amiline Wend with a cautious smile holding the door open.
Raven tried something new, giving her most encouraging smile. Apparently it worked as Wend's grin grew bigger "Ms. Raven…would you care to get some lunch together?"
The heroine shrugged "Sure, is there a place nearby?" and soon she found herself sitting in a small French restaurant where both women had a small beef salad. And as another first Raven broke the silence "How did I not know about this place?"
Her company giggled "Frank doesn't advertise, only word of mouth…but I guess that he does well enough, he goes back to France every summer"
Raven didn't want the conversation to end, Amiline was more interesting than she originally gave the woman credit for and her intellect was every bit as sharp as her own. Casting a quick glance she noticed the book poking out of Wend's bag "Is that June Webner's new book?"
June Webner was the leading authoress of realistic horror, Raven had only not turned the tower into a nightmare again because Fear had passed out somewhere around page 13. Soon the two were embroiled in a debate on if the second or third book of said author was more realistic.
In the darkness of the house a small fire was lit and Rooch studied the pictures in front of it. Though to many they would show little more than a woman flirting with a man he knew something about it that made him stare. Something that he hadn't seen before. With a frustrated sigh he moved the picture out of the area of caution of the fire place and felt the heat permeate his scarred bones. He knew the chilly fall was ending and quickly moving to a cold winter.
Very slowly he stood and allowed the cracks and knots in his body to unwind, the seductive song from what lay in the basement nearly pulled him but the Herculean will he had would not bend. The cozy nest held secrets aplenty but that was one even he wished he didn't have to hide. "Soon" he said as he looked at the photo on the small alter "They will make their move, I only hope I move fast enough when they do" the memorial photo stood in silent salute of the graduate and the boy
The two women had spent hours talking and Raven found herself freely speaking with this woman, although so different they were very like of mind and she asked Wend about how she came across such an odd employer. The woman gave a small chuckle "I grew up in an orphanage and being one of the elder children I was given more liberties, one night I was out walking and saw this strange man sitting on the bench at a nearby park…I hadn't seen him before and I was really worried about what he might do…but I caught him bleeding…pretty badly and rushed over, he waved off the ambulance and somehow I got him fixed up enough that he wouldn't die. Apparently his girlfriend had hit him with her truck and got out to stab him with a knife and got a few good shots in before she tripped and well…" Wend was quite for a moment "I really didn't know what to make of it, the wounds did match what he was saying but who tells a stranger that? Somehow we managed to get to a small clinic that was open and they took him in. I really thought he was psychotic until later" Amiline had an odd smile on her face "When the home sent me on my way I didn't really know what I wanted to do. But I got a letter with a map saying that if I wanted a place to stay and a job he'd give it to me in repayment for that night…it's been six years since I first saw him…and this letter was a year ago…but I didn't have anything to lose and I met him."
Raven nodded "Rooch…so you've seen the man in person? And lived with him?"
The other nodded happily "Yeah, he took me in and started to teach me how to do what he does. I've never looked back and never felt more happy. I moved out half a year ago and I can't wrap my head around how far I've come in a year."
Raven felt her own nod go "Amazing how much things can change in a year" she intoned cryptically and Wend only smiled.
Then Amiline's phone went off. It was from Rooch:
Somebody just burned down the office,
Stay safe. I'll contact you later
