Finding Light In The Dark

Chapter 6

"We know that you and your mates didn't just decide to roughhouse some girl on the streets that would be too much of a risk of getting caught so who hired you?"

I was getting sick of the lead thug that attacked Kori. Turns out they are sort of a team and they have a pretty long impressive wrap sheet. Our findings only concreted Rachel's and mine idea that they were hired to shake Kori up then send her back home.

We tried with the other two but they wouldn't speak so we tried the leader and he is insisting that they just saw her thought she was hot and that they wanted to 'play' with her.

We weren't buying it.

"We were not hired! I told you what happened."

Rachel sighed, "We will cut you a deal, lighter sentence for who hired you."

That made the thug pause. I could tell he was weighing his options.

After a few minutes he leaned forward "you got to promise me and my boys protection."

I nodded instantly "Deal."

He paused for a minute pursing his lips "he called on us a month ago. Questioning us, getting references, testing us to make sure we would be able to preform the job we were going to be given. We passed with flying colors but the plan changed and things became more urgent so last week he gave us new instruction. We followed them but we failed, obviously."

I nodded and Rachel asked the question that bugged us most. "Who is behind this?"

The man shrugged "He wore a mask, I didn't want to know his name because that kind of information can get you killed in our world."

I knit my eyebrows "What do you mean?"

The man laughed shaking his head "you would have come across his work before but thought you caught the culprits. Every villain knows of him, some even know him, but no one knows his name. He has a given name that the bad guys community has given him but that its."

This was new finally an actual lead to who did this. "What's his given name?"

The man smiled "Death stroke, you smart you steer clear unless you want everyone you ever known or cared about to be killed."

Rachel took over letting me process everything.

"Why would he want Kori dead?"

"I risked it and asked him even though everyone knows you do ask him nothing."

"And what did he say?"

"Justice, justice had to be served and her and her family needed to have justice served to them. That's exactly what he told me."

"Do you know if he was going to take any other action against the other Ander?"

"I know there was one more in the family he wanted dead but he couldn't find her."

"Anything else we should know?"

"Yeah he wants that women dead, you get in his way, you gonna die to."

I headed for the door "thank you for your cooperation."

Rachel followed me as we exited the interrogation room.

I spoke first as we headed back to our office "Wow."

Rachel sucked in a huge breath "Now for Kori."

I nodded. I brought Kori into work with me today and we told her about her apartment and she seemed shaken so instead of taking her to an interrogation room we took her to the office and had her wait in there while we spoke with the guys who attacked her.

After so long of being in the dark on this case we finally were finding some light. We could move forward and more and more evidence was coming to light.

When we finally made it to our office we walked in and saw Kori looking over all of the Ander case papers.

She didn't look up but simply said in a small voice "If we suspected anything we were suppose to tell each other so we could protect one another."

I felt sad for her, loosing a brother. I know what loss feels like all to well and it is a feeling that I would wish on no one.

First my parents died because a mob boss sabotaged there high wire act and next my adopted brother got in with the wrong crowd and was killed by a drug dealer who called himself the joker.

But those losses helped me get were I am today; I want to prevent losses or find justice for those who have already suffered the loss and just want answers.

Rachel went and sat in her chain and started the interview "Kori, why would someone want to kill you and your siblings."

She found the picture of Ryan's body and just stared. After a few minutes she spoke her voice seeming to be miles away.

"Kom would have told you."

Rachel sighed, "Yes she did but it would help if we heard your side."

"Our family was against the revolution. Our parents were killed and Kom brought us here to America to save us."

"Why your family? From our research only a few family that stood by the crown were killed."

"My family was the most loyal to Tamaran tradition and culture. They wanted to kill us as examples."

I decided to ask a few questions. "Did you know the royal family?"

Kori looked up "We were close, yes."

"Did you ever consider that someone would find and kill you to finish the job?"

Kori nodded "We had a plan in place incase exactly that happened. Ryan must have thought it to dangerous to contact us."

"When did you hear of your brothers murder?"

"Not until about two months after it happened. I don't keep up with the news, it is too sad."

"How did you find out?"

"A customer came into the café I work at and they were talking and I over heard the name. I did some research when I came home…."

She trailed off her eyes becoming watery she looked back down at the photo that was still in her hand.

"Who is cruel enough to do such a thing? Please tell me they did not leave him like this to die."

Rachel opened her mouth but I spoke over her knowing she would say that he was beaten first when I knew that Kori at this moment just need a less sad answer.

"He was killed before they hung him up like that, died from gunshot wound."

She nodded wiping at her eyes "Not as horrible as what I thought."

I nodded to my chair "Please sit."

She complied and also reached for a tissue off my desk.

I went to lean against Rachel's desk then tried to map out what to ask her next.

Rachel beat me to it.

"Did you think whoever was going to kill Ryan was going to come after you?"

She nodded "that is why I would have been so hard to find. I left Gotham for about a month then came back deciding that Gotham was to close to Kom and if I was being tailed then I would but her in trouble. I considered moving to Bludhaven but decided that it had been so long they wouldn't have known wee I am otherwise they would have done the murdering of me as well."

"Who would be behind this?"

"The main leader was executed along with any others who were caught heading the rebellion. The other rebels were sentenced to prison. But even still records do not show that many escaped and fled."

"Why don't the records show that?"

"Many faked their deaths, or had carful story's that kept them from being linked, some were just like shadows, staying in the dark not being seen."

"How do you know this?"

"I observed along with my siblings, when you were in the thick of it you cant see as much. The authorities were also a bit preoccupied with trying to keep the royals alive."

I shook my head "they didn't stay alive though. They were murdered, the whole family."

She nodded "Yes."

I ran a hand though my hair "Kori, do you trust us?"

She nodded "Yes, so far you have not given me a reason to not trust you."

"So your apartment is safe to assume that you cannot go back there and the fact that they know where you were puts you in danger so you can either continue to stay with me or enter witness protection where not even Rachel and I will be able to find you."

She paused for a minute "I wish to stay with you if it is not to much trouble, I want to help you catch who is behind this."

Rachel raised an eyebrow. "I would offer you to stay with me but I don't have the room, are you sure you are okay with staying with Dick?"

She nodded "As I have said, I trust you as Kom did."

I nodded "Well, I think you may have a few things you need to do. Disappeared again."

"Of course, If I can I have many things to do in order to do the disappearing yet again so I shall see you back at your apartment later Dick."

I nodded she stood and headed for the door but I took her arm gently and raised her hand.

In her hand was the photo of Ryan she gave me a sad smile.

I smiled back "Trade you."

She seemed confused but I took out my pocketknife placed it in her hand and took the photo.

"I trust you can take acre of yourself during the day, seemed like you were doing a pretty good job last night."

She nodded "I will do the seeing of you later, Thank you. Goodbye Rachel."

Rachel gave a wave as Kori closed the door to our office.

She then gave me a suspicious look "Dick, you are actually not being a dick, maybe a bit stupid but..."

"I promised Kom, I always keep my promises. Beside I will feel better knowing she is okay and with in checking on distance."

Rachel nodded "It is actually a good idea, her Intel will come in handy. How will Barbra react?"

A small smirk crossed her lips and I groaned the thought of what Barbra would think completely escaping me. "It will be fine I hope."

Rachel laughed "I wish you luck Dick, now I am going to run to Victor and Garfield's office because I know they would be dying of curiosity and I am surprised they were not listening at the door."

I waved my hand at her as an I sat down at my desk "Go head I want to do some research on this Death stroke person."

She nodded "Ill be back to help in a bit."

Rachel left and when she did I ran a hand down my face groaning loudly.

My mind started filling with questions and I looked at my computer screen that happened to be a picture of Barbra and me. 'She would be cool with it wouldn't she? Why the hell am I thinking about that when a killer is loose and I have information and he could still kill… Kori'

I shook my head of all of those thoughts of my personal life even though Kori technically wasn't apart of my personal life, yet.

I cleared my mind then finally got to my research, trying to find the person who instigated the train of events that has turned my life upside down.