Well hello there! I can almost promise the next update won't be as prompt (though I'm working on it), so sorry in advance. Anyway, I hope y'all are enjoying the story as much as I'm enjoying writing it!
After leaving the observation deck, Diana waited for Bruce to catch up. He fell in stride a few paces behind her. This deliberate distance was something they maintained at all times around the Watchtower. There were certainly a few people who knew the distance was manufactured, but for the most part, it did enough to keep rumors to a minimum.
So when Batman caught up to Diana, she understood that to be the closest thing to an apology she was going to get that day. It was Batman who insisted that they be as inconspicuous as possible. Diana understood the merits of his argument, but she didn't particularly care either way, at least not around their close colleagues.
Neither of them acknowledged the gesture as they entered the monitor womb to find Wally reclined in front of the main console, with his feet resting on the edge of the large control board. "We're switching shifts. Feet off the console, drinks out of the room."
"Bats, you've got to be kidding me," Flash answered as he sat upright again. "How is anyone supposed to go six hours without a drink?" he asked incredulously.
"Not anyone. Just you," he answered, striding toward the main console and bringing up several surveillance screens.
"That's cold Bats," Flash replied jokingly. "Are you going to let him get away with this Wondy?" He asked, turning to a smirking Diana.
"I'm sorry Flash, but if I remember correctly, you are the only person who has damaged the central processor," she said as Flash's expression deflated, "Twice."
"Fine, fine, I can tell when I'm not wanted. I know it's bad news when Wondy's on the same side as Mr. Tall, Dark, and Brooding," Flash said as he stood up from his chair. "I'll be in the commissary if you need me."
"We won't," Batman answered back. Diana hoped that reply didn't make it to Wally's ears.
"That was hardly necessary, Bruce," Diana said in a hushed voice as she joined him at the console.
"He's a big boy, he'll survive," he answered as he brought up footage of Maxwell Lord's former property holdings.
As he searched through the FBI footage Superman flagged earlier, he could practically hear the chill run Diana's spine. There was no doubt the man on the screen was Maxwell Lord. Diana visibly stiffened. Batman kept Diana in his periphery while he scrutinized the footage.
The footage was time-stamped three days ago, which made Bruce question why he had only just found out about this yesterday. Nonetheless, he took note of the location: Washington D.C. Two blocks away from the Themysciran Embassy.
"Pull up the Embassy surveillance footage from three days ago, five minutes after," Diana commanded shortly as she paused and squinted at the time-stamp at the bottom of the screen, "9:42." The royal voice. Bruce didn't bother mentioning that's what he was already doing.
Diana's eyes widened in shock as Maxwell Lord's hunched figure passed by the front gate of the Embassy, paused for a moment, and then continued toward the alleyway the next building over. Diana's jaw set as she took a defensive stance.
Just as the window revealed Maxwell Lord, Superman entered the monitor womb to check on the progress of his friends."You know, you can't just tie up the monitor womb—" He stopped, shock coloring his features. Bruce found it much less attractive on the Boy Scout.
"Bewilderment does not suit you," he said sternly, prompting Superman to control his expression.
"How is this possible?" Diana demanded from no one in particular. Bruce couldn't help but ask himself same question. "How could no one have know Maxwell Lord practically traipsed through the Themysciran Embassy?"
"Who is in charge of Embassy security?" Superman asked, clearly surprised no one caught this.
"It's handled by the State Department," Diana answered. "They contract out to a private firm—Delphi International Security."
"This is why I suggested you hire Waynetech," Batman added. Diana glared, and he knew he earned it. He also knew he was right. She chose to ignore that and turned to address Superman.
"Delphi International Security assigned 9 employees and 1 supervisor to Embassy security outside of the Themysciran operatives."
"Who is the supervisor?" Superman asked.
"Stanley Larsen." Diana began shaking her head as Batman brought up Stanley's employee profile on the screen.
"No, Stanley is not responsible for this. I selected him personally for this reason. He is a good, loyal man," Diana said, leaning forward on large center console. Her shoulders drooped as she continued to consider the situation before her. "I give his daughters' classes a tour of the Embassy every year. He sends me his family's Christmas card. I've been to his house for dinner more times than I can count."
"Diana, no one reported seeing Maxwell Lord outside the Embassy or in the footage. Embassy computers have access to the Watchtower database," Batman explained calmly, arms crossed over his broad chest. He respected her empathy, but she was ignoring the obvious link. While he'd be the first to admit that the obvious wasn't usually the answer in cases like these, he wasn't about to completely overlook it either. "Both you and Stanley are supposed to receive direct alerts from the facial recognition system when matches are made."
Diana merely crossed her arms and stood up straighter.
"Someone in the Embassy is answering to Lord, and given Embassy security policies and the facts that we have, that person is probably Stanley Larsen. Princess, you can't logically deny that," Batman added. Diana, shifted, arms still crossed, putting weight on her left leg. Watch me.
"Then we find more facts," she replied, jaw set. "Since when do you deal in probably?" Diana couldn't argue that Stanley was the obvious choice. But her gut told her that her trusted friend did not betray her, not to mention the obvious choices weren't always the correct ones.
"Maxwell Lord has come back and had his sights set on you for over forty-eight hours without our knowledge. We investigate the obvious choice until the obvious choice is impossible," Batman answered, crossing his own arms. Diana decided that what he really wanted to say was Because you don't have time for certainty and I care too much. She did admit that may have been a bit beyond his emotional grasp, but she took comfort in her little fantasy.
The trio worked in silence as Batman continued to research Stanley's financials, looking for any major changes. Diana, seated next to Batman and working on the smaller screen along the bottom of the main console, scrutinized the footage within the Embassy in search of any indication that Stanley received an alert about Max Lord. Superman scanned the employee logs to determine who else could have been involved. When Superman suddenly perked up, Diana noticed.
"What is it Kal?" She asked, taking his sudden enthusiasm as a good sign. Still looking down at the papers in front of him, Superman began, "What if Stanley Larsen never received the alert?"
Batman didn't stop typing. "I'm assuming you actually have evidence to back that statement up." Superman was moments from actually using his heat vision as he glared at the man underneath the cowl.
"That doesn't warrant a response," Superman replied. "And yet you responded," Batman interjected. This warranted an icy glare from both the alien and the princess. Superman continued, "From what I can tell, Stanley never received an alert."
Diana nodded, "This footage corroborates that. Stanley's phone, nor his radio ever went off."
Superman, growing weary of interruption, though Diana's was a least supportive, continued, "And a certain William Baker, who was on shift at the time, used to work for a private ITS firm specializing in security breaches." Even Batman stopped working.
"I think I need to have a word with Mr. Baker," Diana said, standing tall and looking fearsome.