Quentin Lance stood quietly at the crime scene, his previously hot coffee now cold in his hand. But even if it was still pipping it wouldn't do much to warm him right now.
And not just because of the cold wind that blew the whole morning. It was because of the heartbreaking sight in front of him.
He recognized the vehicle the moment he saw it, despite it being all mangled up and left partially on the sidewalk. How could he not? He saw her enter the bright red Mini countless of times.
"Detective." a young officer in uniform got Lance's attention, "The suitcase is still in the trunk and a handbag with personal things and a wallet inside. It was most likely on the passenger seat before the impact. The ID belongs to one-"
"Felicity Smoak."
The policeman nodded in confirmation, "You know her, sir?"
"Yeah. I know her boss even better." Lance muttered under his his breath before throwing the takeout cup of coffee in the trash can, and fishing out his cell phone.
Previously he took a lot of pleasure of making Oliver Queen's day miserable. How could he not, when the kid was a sheltered, spoiled brat by day, and a heartless killer by night?
But then the Undertaking happened and Queen changed. Or maybe he changed before that; maybe it happened when Miss Smoak joined his team, his crusade.
Today Oliver Queen was a not completely successful CEO of the family company by day, and a hero that helped the city by night.
And Lance couldn't help but wonder if this wreck in front of him was a result of previous actions, perhaps someone wanting revenge. And doing it through an innocent.
The strong gush of cold air made the detective shiver.
He had a feeling who ever took Felicity Smoak will be the next one to shiver, but out of fear. One does not kidnap the Arrow's friend, and walk away unscaled. The Count is a proof of that.
Three arrows to the chest and a fall from 30th floor.
As he heard the ringing through his phone he took one last glance at the destroyed Mini. There was blood at the windshield and the air-bag that was deployed. It was a sight that will haunt him for years.
"Detective?" he barely heard Oliver over the sound of the tow-truck that just arrived at the scene, so Lance took a seat behind the wheel of his cruiser and shut the door.
"I'm afraid I don't have good news, Queen. It might be best if you get to the precinct."
After a few moments, and someone talking in the background, Oliver responded, "I'm in a meeting right now. Did something happened? Is it my sister?"
Lance shook his head, and then remembered Oliver couldn't see him. So he sighed and instead asked, "When was the last time you saw Miss Smoak?"
After a small pause he got an answer, "Last week, she went to visit her mother. But we talked over the phone a few days ago. Detective, what happened? Is Felicity-"
"The evidence suggests her car was intentionally crashed into and ran off the road. No sign of the other vehicle... or Miss Smoak. Queen-"
"I'm on my way, detective."
Diggle stood at his usual place outside of the office doors when Oliver's phone started to ring. He saw his friend's posture change from curious to tense in seconds, and instantly knew something was wrong. It wasn't like Oliver Queen to show emotions, not in front of a shrew that was Isabel Rochev.
So whatever was going on... it was big.
He watched Oliver ignore Isabel's protest about leaving in the middle of an important meeting, and step out of the office. He was quiet as he walked pass and towards the elevator, his jaw tense and the look in his eyes clearly showing he was enraged, and ready to kill someone.
Neither of them knew that the moment they were out of sight Isabel took her cell phone out of her blazer pocket and dialed a last stored number. She didn't even wait fr the person on the other side to acknowledge her, before informing him, "Oliver Queen is on his way to the police station."
"Thank you for your contribution."
Isabel grinned, "No, thank you. You just brought me the company."
Diggle was silent, but when the silence became too much, when Oliver sat at the driver's seat and refused to move, he just had to know what was going on.
"Talk to me, man." he said after getting into a passenger seat.
"Lance called." Oliver said though clenched teeth.
"What did he want? Did something happen to Thea or your mom? Oliver?" Diggle suddenly sat up straighter, "Today is 24th... Felicity is returning today... was there a plane-"
"She was ran off the road!" Oliver snapped and punched the steering wheel, "She's gone! And I didn't feel any of it, Diggle! Nothing! There was no burn! No pain! What kind of soulmate am I when I don't even know the one meant for me was hurt... kidnapped?!"
"I don't think it works that way, man." Diggle pointed out, feeling awful reminding Oliver right now that the burn was only present during cheating, in a lack of better words to describe the whole thing, on your intended soulmate.
"Well it should!" Oliver snapped at his friend again.
Dig didn't hold against him the fact he was taking his anger out on the wrong person. He understood that behind anger lied something else, and it made sense to him the Oliver was freaking out. Because he was more then just angry; he was terrified.
"If it worked that way then Felicity would be in constant pain every time you put on a hood and went after bad guys." he calmly pointed out the hole in Oliver's logic, and as a response got glared at.
"You suck at calming people down, you know that?" the younger man said eventually, and Diggle barely contained a grin.
"You can be calm later, once Felicity is safe. Now I need you to be royally pissed off, cause we need to get this guy that took her, whoever it is."
Oliver just nodded, and parked in front of the police precinct. He would have rather if he was arriving at this place in the back of a police cruiser and with handcuffs. Everything was better than going to see Lance cause someone important to him was taken, even if it meant his secret was out and the whole world knew he was the Arrow.
Felicity's safety would come first.
Quentin Lance waived the two men inside, and moments later Oliver and Diggle were in his office with the door closed behind them. There was no need for others to be privy to this conversation, since there was a good chance certain secrets will be mentioned.
"Miss Smoak's car was taken to the impound. The technicians are already working on gathering any shred of evidence that would lead us to whomever took her, so at the moment I don't have much. I actually called you in for a different reason."
Oliver watched as Lance took a brown paper evidence bag from the side table and took a familiar flat item out of it. On top was a sticky note that surprisingly still held on to the screen.
"She carried that tablet with her everywhere." Oliver pointed out.
"I figured as much. The girl is a computer genius, after all." Lance said with a nod, "The note says 'I.R. on personal crusade, evidence inside'. Does that mean anything to you?"
Oliver shook his head, "No."
But the detective only sighed, "Look, I don't care if this note leads directly to your other job and to your... Arrowcave or whatever you want to call it... I don't. My only concern right now is finding Felicity Smoak."
"I.R. could stand for Isabel Rochev." Diggle pointed out and Lance focused on the bodyguard standing by the door. When noticing he got the detective's full attention he continued, "As you probably know she is send on behalf of Stellmoore International to acquire Queen Consolidated. But it may be possible Felicity discovered something else."
Lance turned towards Oliver, "And it didn't cross your mind that the initials could mean the woman who is after your family's company?"
Oliver just glared at him, "I am more concerned with Felicity's disappearance then with Miss Rochev."
"Unless she was involved." Dig mumbled and two pair of eyes turned towards him.
"The tablet is locked. I don't suppose you know the passport." Lance turned towards Oliver, who in response reached out.
After Lance placed the tablet in his hand, and after mentioning it was technically an evidence, Oliver traced the three lines on the screen like he saw Felicity do countless times. But instead of a normal screen, he got a password request window.
"You should try-" Dig tried to make a suggestion, but Oliver didn't wait till he was finished before entering a term he knew Felicity used for her password.
On the screen, among the usual icons, were several file shortcuts linked to the memo on the post-it. And considering their names he was certain they were linked to the takeover of QC.
"I can have the best technicians go through the tablet's memory, see if there was something on it that would explain why Miss Smoak was kidnapped." Lance reached for the flat device, but paused when Oliver turned t so he could see what was on the screen, "What is that?"
"Last week Felicity called me late at night. She was drunk, but that's not important. he mentioned looking into Isabel Rochev's past and that it was interesting. I think this is what she was talking about."
"Who the hell is that?" Lance tilted his head, like a different perspective would help him recognize the man on the rather compromising photo. It was made through the window, but that quality was pretty good. They were even able to see the wedding band on the unknown man's finger.
Oliver shrugged and swiped on the next photo. And instantly his heart clenched. He remembered Felicity's words clearly, what he said about Isabel and his father. And now he had proof in front of him, staring back from the screen.
"This one you'll recognize." he said coldly and showed the old photo to Lance.
"Robert Queen. That is way more of your old man's anatomy than I ever wanted to so." the detective muttered under his breath, "What the hell is that woman up to? And how is it linked to Miss Smoak kidnapping? Is it even linked?"
"More then likely, but there is no proof." Diggle said, his fists clenched tightly behind his back, "Isabel Rochev is a woman on a mission."
"Not just mission... try revenge." Oliver said coldly.
The second file he opened was Isabel's phone and e-mail records. Felicity did an amazing job of finding proof that the Stellmore takeover isn't happening because the CEO of the company wants it. It's personal.
Few clicks later blue eyes widened in shock.
"What did you found?" Lance instantly asked, seeing Oliver freeze in the chair.
"Isabel Rochev started an affair with the man on the photo so she could use it against him. Peter Trevor is the CEO of Stellmore International, and she needed his cooperation to go after QC. She's blackmailing him with that photo, threatening to send it to his father-in-law and actual the owner of the company."
Lance whistled, "He married the owner's little girl, then cheated on her with someone from the firm? Your girl did a good job digging all that up."
"That's how Felicity is." Oliver said with a small smile. He would never admit to Lance, but it felt really good for the older man to refer Felicity as his girl.
"Okay. Enough playing with that thing. I already bent the rules enough by letting you use it. You've been helpful but... what now?" Lance asked after Oliver cursed under his breath.
The next file had similar content, but it was about Isabel's online conversations and messages with someone names Wilson S. Friend. The little note Felicity made said she didn't found anyone by that name in any database, from DMV, IRS, and even Homeland Security. No one by that name existed officially.
But the familiarity of it made Oliver slightly nauseous.
Still, he refused to accept the possibility just cause of the name. It has to be a coincidence. It has to be.
The phone call was short, and came moments after Oliver stepped out of the precinct. Oliver recognized the voice, recognized the nickname the moment he heard the man on the other side speak.
He called him 'kid', and there was only one person who did that. And if you asked him ten minutes ago about his former friend Oliver would have swore on his life that Slade Wilson was dead. He would have been wrong.
Because the older man was still very much alive. And back for revenge.
"She is quite lovely... your Felicity. Your soulmate." Slade taunted him, "Such a pity you didn't keep her safe. Maybe if you did she wouldn't be bleeding now. So much blood. What do you think? Would she survive if I gave her a dose of Mirakuru?"
"What do you want Slade?" Oliver tried to keep his voice neutral, not reveal how terrified he felt right now. Yes, he was angry... he was furious. But the fear for Felicity's safety, for her life, was slowly overshadowing everything else he felt.
"Empty warehouse on the corner of 14th and East. One hour. You do not get the time to come up with a plan how to save your soulmate when you sentenced mine to death."
"Shado wasn't your-"
"I loved her!" Slade roared, "She was mine!"
In the next second all Oliver could hear was the beeping of the disconnected call. Slade said what he planed to say.
Diggle who stood by Oliver's side the whole time, and who managed to hear both sides of the conversation due to Slade's loud voice, watched as his friend squeezed the cell phone in his hand and was ready to take it from his grasp before it broke and the sharp pieces stabbed Oliver's hand.
But instead of breaking him Oliver scrolled through the contact list and dialed a number. He knew he could rely on Dig to have his back, but they will need more help.
Sara stood at the abandoned dock with her eyes closed. It was cold, but she welcomed the freezing wind right now. It was better than being downstairs in the basement below Verdant, in the large, and currently empty, space that served only as a reminder that she messed up all over again.
From the phone conversation she overheard between Diggle and Felicity she knew the blonde woman was returning to Starling today, and knowing how diligent she was it was to be expected she'll join them on their other job tonight, and not take the night off and start again tomorrow.
That also made her hope will help with the tension in the lair.
The training she received after joining the League of assassins improved Sara's perception of the world around her, of the smallest changes in the air that happened when someone approached her. And no matter how silent they were she could feel them.
That is how she knew someone joined her, even without opening her eyes.
"Ta-er al-Safar."
It was just one word, but Sara instantly recognized who it was that approached her. No one in Starling knew it, or called her by that name. They called her the Canary, without ever learning why she answered to that name.
She didn't even share that little detail with Oliver who became her lover, her boyfriend. Maybe because deep down she knew it wouldn't last, how could it when they were both meant for different people.
"Why are you here Nyssa?" finally Sara opened her eyes, but didn't turn around to face her visitor.
"My father sent me. He orders for you to return to us, where you belong." the dark-haired assassin spoke calmly.
Sara just shook her head, "My home is here... my family."
"You are a member of the League. You were not given leave."
Finally, after few moments of silence Sara turned to face her former lover. Nyssa saved her life, brought her to Nanda Parbat, and taught her how to fight properly, how to survive. How to kill. But she couldn't teach her how to do it without feeling remorse.
That is why Sara eventually escaped the clutches of the Demon, and the League.
"Then release me yourself."
She watched Nyssa closely, watched her every movement and face expression. She looked so different right now, in daylight and in civilian clothes. Sara couldn't remember when was the last time she saw her like this, and not in her usual League's uniform and hidden among the shadows of the ancient passages of the compound in the desert.
"I can not do that."
"And I can not go back." Sara responded, "I'm sorry."
"As am I." Nyssa's words served as a warning, and Sara knew it. And just moments later several black garbed assassins appeared seemingly out of nowhere and cornered her.
Each and every single one of them held a sword in one hand and a dagger in the other. They were ready to kill her, and bring her dead body with them to Nanda Parbat if they don't succeed to bring her back alive.
It was almost comical, their response, as the first ones that attacked instantly stopped when a loud, and rather irritating, melody started to play. If her life wasn't in serious peril right now Sara would have laughed. But instead she plucked her phone out of the pocket and opened the message that just arrived.
And all color vanished from her face.
Oliver's message was short, but contained all the information she needed.
"Slade is alive and holds Felicity hostage. Warehouse, 14th and East."
Sara returned her phone in the picket and faced her former lover. Nyssa watched her closely, tried to understand what was going on. And at the same time the assassins were watching Nyssa, waiting for an order.
"There is a madman on the loose, and he holds an innocent hostage. I'm going to help my friends save her." Sara said hoping her plan will work, "You are free to follow me and kill me later if you so desire, but I am not leaving Felicity at the mercy of a monster. I owe her that much."
Nyssa merely nodded and the assassins returned their swords in the sheaths.
"We will accompany you Ta-er al-Safar."
For months Felicity complained to Oliver about his tardiness. There wasn't a single early-morning meeting he didn't arrive at least 5 minutes late for. Usually he would put on a charming smile and say it was expected from Oliver Queen, but a single glare from her usually resulted in him saying he'll be on time for the next meeting. He never was.
Today was probably the first time he arrived early.
But then today it was a matter of life and death.
Slade was already waiting when Oliver entered through the side entrance. Oliver's former friend, a brother that trained him and helped him survive some of the most brutal days on the island. The man Oliver though was dead.
But it seemed the serum Slade once got kept him alive. And kept him insane.
"Imagine my surprise when I heard about a vigilante that fought against criminals with a bow and arrows. And in Starling city no less." a gasp escaped Felicity's lips when the one-eyed man pressed the knife he was holding closer to her throat.
"I'm here Slade. Let her go." Oliver tried to remain calm, but the sight of his friend, his partner, being used as a human shield, threatened, it angered him. And it terrified him.
"Do you remember what I promised you, kid? Do you? I promised to make you suffer. To make you pay for what you did to Shado."
Oliver closed his eyes. Her death still haunted him, and he still felt guilty for it. But at the same time he knew it wasn't his fault, "It was Ivo who killed her. And you already killed him. You got your revenge Slade."
Somewhere behind Oliver Diggle was moving among the shadows, trying to get a good clear shoot of the madman that held Felicity. It was difficult despite his target standing ramrod straight and still. He didn't want to harm his friend, didn't want to accidentally shoot her instead.
It was frustrating. Even more so because Sara still wasn't there. Oliver was certain she would already be waiting for them when they got to the warehouse but the Canary was still absent.
"You had a choice. You chose Sara." Slade pressed the hunter knife closer and a drop of blood trickled down Felicity's throat, and moments later a tear escaped her eye. She was in pain, but she refused to make a single sound. She refused to show to the maniac she was scared and hurting.
"No. I chose to die instead of them. Ivo didn't allow that. He chose who lives and who dies that day... not me. I never would have chose Shado to be killed. She was my friend."
"She was more than that? Wasn't she?" Felicity flinched when Slade moved so his mouth was near her ear, "Tell me Miss Smoak? How much pain were you in every time Oliver here put himself first and slept with random women, completely forgetting he carried your mark?"
"I am not that person anymore!" Oliver snapped at his former friend, who just grinned at him in return.
"You're not? Because I heard you got really cozy in Russia with the woman who is after your company. Out of curiosity... were you with that bitch Sara since she returned to the city?" Slade grinned when a look of guilt crossed Oliver's face. He learned how to read the kid really well on the island, "Naughty kid. Hurting your own soulmate like that... it seems like you have absolutely no respect for her. Like you don't need her."
"I do! I do need her!" Oliver couldn't stop the panic from showing in his voice.
"Pity... cause you can't have her. I keep my promises, kid. And there is no better way to make you suffer then to let you live. Without your soulmate."
The burn came instantaneously, and it brought Oliver to his knees. A sound of a gunshot pierced the silence, but he didn't hear it. Diggle called his name, but he didn't hear it. Footsteps of multiple people echoed through the large warehouse, but he didn't hear it.
His mark burned.
And with it his heart.
He crawled, limped... he didn't know how he got to her, but somehow Oliver managed to get to the body lying on the concrete floor, before the first sob escaped his lips.
"Ollie." Sara stood frozen few feet away, unwilling to believe what she was seeing. She was late, because she led several assassins through the streets she couldn't take the fastest route and it cost her precious time.
She was too late to help, to do anything.
Diggle knelled next to Oliver and gently reached for Felicity's hand. He needed to know, needed to feel the absence. Otherwise he would never accept it.
It was gone... Her heartbeat. And her clear blue eyes were empty, and a bit of blood trickled out of her mouth.
She was dead. Felicity Smoak was lying dead in front of him with a knife in her chest.
Slade was efficient in his brutality. It went straight to her heart.
Diggle cursed himself for not shooting sooner, for not taking a chance. If only he did... than she would be alive. Smiling at them, babbling.
"Oliver." he said his friend's name softly, placed a hand on his shoulder. But received no response.
Somewhere in the distance the police sirens were heard, and they were coming closer. It seemed despite the general abandonment of this area someone still heard the gunshot and called the police.
"Diggle, you need to get him out of here." Sara got his attention, and he frowned when he saw a woman standing by the blonde's side, watching everything. Behind them were half a dozen men dressed in the same way Malcolm Merlyn once did.
"He won't leave her. There is no way..."
"Digg, he has the hood on." Sara pointed out, eying the green jacket Oliver put on before coming to the warehouse. It was in the bag in the trunk, and Diggle didn't understand why his friend decided to wear it, but he did and with the police on their way. It was not good.
"Come on." it took some effort, a lot of pulling and dragging, but Diggle finally managed to get Oliver away from Felicity and out of the side door.
He vaguely heard Sara saying she'll make sure Felicity is treated with respect she deserves before the metal door of the warehouse closed behind them, cutting them off from the death that ruled inside.
It was only then that Oliver started to fight back, and try to return inside and at Felicity's side.
But Diggle was stronger, and Oliver was soon inside the car and on his way to the mansion. The former soldier planed to stop along the way and get the green leather jacket off his friend before they reach the house. It wouldn't be good if someone in the staff of a member of his family saw him wearing it.
Although Diggle suspected Moira Queen knew exactly what her son did at night, Thea had no idea, and it was probably better if it remained that way until Oliver was ready to tell his sister.
"Nyssa?" Sara said gently as she knelled by Felicity's side and gently touched her already cooling cheek.
"Yes?" the Heir of the Demon stepped forward.
Sara had tears in her eyes as she looked up, "I will return with you to Nanda Parbat. I will rejoin the League... under one condition."
The dark-haired woman knew what she had in mind, and nodded in understanding, "Only my father can allow it. You will need to persuade him."
"I will succeed persuading him. I have to."
