I realize that I never gave the bad guy a name before. I let my cousin do the honors since this story features her departed cat Nitro.
After his meeting with Srgt Maddox, Richard soon finds himself back at the hotel to wait for Deathstroke and learn what he was able to find out. He still has reservations about working with the villain, but if it is what he has to do in order to find Raven then so be it. As he steps into the lobby a short pudgy balding man follows him inside.
He let his young escort go up to the room first to keep from arousing suspicion that they are indeed lovers. He allows his eye to wander to the young man in the elevator. The man is not as young as his lover, he thinks, but still quite handsome.
The way the strange man looks at him makes Richard very uncomfortable. He finds himself wishing that he was outside scaling the wall as Nightwing.
"Have we met somewhere before? I must admit you look awfully familiar."
"I don't think so."
"Still I'm sure I have seen you somewhere before...give me a moment and I'm sure it will come to me." He looks at the floor the man punches. That alone tells him the man is very well off. Rooms here don't come cheap but one must be rich to be on such a lavish floor. "No...you couldn't be. Richard Grayson of Wayne Tech...one of the most eligible bachelors in the country. Forgive me my wife reads all those sensationalist magazines."
For some reason Richard finds himself doubting its this guy's wife that reads them. "Guilty as charged I'm afraid."
"It is certainly a pleasure to meet you Mr. Grayson. I'm Peter Cox from Cox & Young Architecture. We have worked with Wayne Tech to outfit many of our buildings with the latest state of the art technology. Your company does amazing work."
"Thank you Mr. Cox. I will be sure to pass that on to Mr. Wayne." The name of the company sparks Richard's interest it was where all the files on the desk were from."
"What brings you all the way out to Jump City?"
Did this man have something to do with Raven's disappearance? He decides to try and gage the man's reaction. "A friend of mine is missing. I have a P. I. on her trail. Perhaps you have heard of her, Rachel Roth."
He tries to hide his shock over hearing that this man is a friend of Rachel Roth. "Who hasn't? She is very active in local charity work. I'm so sorry to hear that she's missing."
Richard takes a good look at the man as he becomes certain that this man has played at least some part in Raven's disappearance. "My P. I. has some leads so I hope to find her soon or if it comes to the worst those responsible."
"If there is anything I can do please let me know."
"Thank you." Richard doesn't miss the look of relief on the man's face as the elevator stops and he gets out leaving the man alone.
Slade...I feel you...I'm so weak please hurry. Raven looks around at least this time she is in her dark mindscape. Its darker than usual she thinks as she looks up at the sky. There seem to be fewer stars than she remembers. The path isn't forming either. She is left floating on a seemingly lone asteroid. At least it is better than falling. Tears begin to fall from her eyes as she thinks of Slade. She wouldn't be in this mess if only she had the courage to give him what he wanted.
On the roof of the hotel Deathstroke has tracked down Red X.
Red X stops after finishing his errand when he sees the glowing of a lit cigarette.
"How many years as it been? I'm surprised you still fit into the suit after all this time."
"Slade...it has been awhile."
"That's Deathstroke now."
"What brings you back to Jump City?"
"Raven. Seen her lately?"
"The Titans cleared out years ago. You know that."
"But she came back and I have the feeling that you know more than you're telling. If I find out you know where she is and you don't tell me it will take more than that suit to protect you."
"Information still costs the same as always. You know the drill. The old meeting place is still there for now. Better hurry if you want to find out what it is that I know."
Deathstroke watches as the villain leaves. He has to catch the cat to keep him from chasing after him. "Not now, Nitro. We will find out what he knows very soon."