Hi all! I hope you enjoy this next chapter. Things are finally coming to an end with the Danny plot point, but I may've a few things up my sleeves before this tale comes to a complete resolution. With that said, onto the chapter!
6:02PM. Felicity stares at the time on her computer, anxiety and relief swirling through her bloodstream simultaneously. She knows she should be heading for the club, but only an idiot would walk into a punishment like that again. No. Felicity is done with the club. All day she thought about Diggle's offer, and even if she does have to spend some time in jail, she would do it. She can't stand the fact that Danny is getting away with all the things he's done to her and the other girls. As Felicity wanders to meetings and computer inspections, she sees Diggle's shadow in the halls and stairways. Not like she minds though. It makes her oddly happy that Oliver cares enough to have his security guard shadowing her.
A small smile crosses Felicity's lips as a reoccurring idea pops into her head…if she no longer worked at the club, and lived a normal life as an IT girl, maybe she and Oliver could continue what they've started. Of course, the cynical thoughts follow chastising her for such idiocy since she is totally not his type. Fate gave them a few nights together, and that should be enough. A knock on the door shocks her out of her thoughts, and Diggle's huge form steps into her office, crouching his head so it doesn't bump into the ceiling lamp.
"For a Bat Cave, this place is pretty small," Diggle teases before sitting in the chair in front of Felicity. She smiles and suspends her computer activity.
"As I said before, not many people come into my cave. Especially not tall men," Felicity retorts, "So how can I help you this evening?"
"I was just making sure you weren't heading for the club tonight," Diggle says and Felicity scoffs.
"Yeah hell no. I am not going back to a place like that. I'd rather go to prison,"
"Well that isn't likely to happen. I talked to my friend in sex crimes. He almost shit himself when I told him I had a lead on the dirt bag Danny, so I added your immunity in the deal for your testimony. He said he'll give you that and some fucking flowers if all you say is true," Diggle exclaims, chuckling at his friend. Felicity's heart leaps for joy, knowing she can officially be free of Danny. Soon. Soon it will all be over.
"Let's go. I want to get this over with," Felicity says as she gathers her bag, shuts off her computer, and adjusts the scarf around her neck. Diggle stands and shrugs in his slumped posture.
"If you wanna do it now, let's go. I'm not going to hold you—or the best bust in a decade—back," the two of them laugh and head out to Diggle's car, "You know Oliver wanted to come with us if you did the police interview, but I told him it would be too risky to get even more involved,"
"Funny, I tell myself the same thing about him," Felicity mumbles under her breath and Diggle laughs loudly.
"Yeah you should probably keep telling yourself that. At least until this mess with Moreno and Merlyn is all cleared up," he exclaims as they get in his car and start the short drive to the police station, "You're going to be a free woman, Felicity,"
"I know…it doesn't seem real,"
"Oh it is though, and I promise you will be fine once this all gets worked out," Diggle says as he parks along the street and leads Felicity into the police department. Shouts, phone calls, and people fill the building, overwhelming the quiet IT girl for a moment. She sees one of the cops shouting in the corner, a small woman shouting right back at him. Felicity freezes when she sees the pixie cut black haired woman turn, catching sight of Felicity.
"Roxy?! Roxy, what are you doing here?" she cries as she hurries over to her friend.
"Looking for you! Danny said you were dead after last night, and I thought he made good on his threat. He's going fucking crazy; he doesn't want to let you go. Ever," Roxy quickly says before Diggle comes and towers behind the blonde girl, "Um, hello. Who is this hunk?" Felicity laughs and steps to the side, letting Diggle introduce himself to her feisty friend.
"Felicity…we need to go," Diggle mumbles and Roxy looks at her.
"Go where? Why are you here?"
"It's a long story, Roxy, but if you really want all this to end, you should come with us," Felicity says and all Roxy does is nod, following the two into an interrogation room where a thin, stocky, cop waits for them.
"Officer Valdez, this is my friend Anonymous and her friend, Anonymous Too," Diggle says as the three of them sit down across from the cop.
"Ah, so there is one more girl willing to step forward?"
"Same deal as the blonde: no prison time, and full anonymity. I want the two of them safe. Understood?"
"Yeah, yeah, Diggle. We know. The DA is just psyched that they are going to get dirt on the Painted Ladies and stop the largest sex crimes operations in the entire city. So…ladies shall we begin?" the cop says, cuing Felicity to begin. On record, she tells her tale of broke college student borrowing from Danny Moreno and that's when he forced her into the sex business to pay off her debts. She doesn't include her day job or any of the men she may have "dated", only because she didn't know their names except Oliver Queen, and she wasn't going to implicate him. Roxy tells her tale that is very similar to Felicity's and once the ladies are done, the cop clears his throat.
"Anonymous, you said that Danny beat you recently. Is there physical proof of that?" Valdez asks, his eyes full of compassion. Felicity pulls the scarf loose and exposes the bruises on her neck.
"There are plenty more like this all over my body," Felicity admits and Valdez whistles low.
"Okay, so I am going to have a female cop take photos of your wounds after you both fill out a signed testimony form, and then you can go home. Sound good?" Valdez asks and both the girls nod, "Fill these out, and Officer Warren will be in to see you, Anonymous. Thank you, ladies. Really," he exits the room and a petite female cop comes in a few minutes later with a camera.
"I'm here if you need me, girlie," Roxy says and Felicity smiles.
"Thank you, but I'm okay," she replies, hugging Roxy before Diggle takes her out of the interrogation room. Officer Warren drops blinds over the two-way mirror.
"You are safe in here, okay?" she murmurs and Felicity nods. She lifts her shirt off, removes the bandages on her waist, and slides out of her tights and skirt. She patiently stands in just her bra and underwear as Warren takes photos of all the cuts and bruises. She collects fingernail scrapings even though Felicity told her she showered.
"I can't believe this happened to you…" Officer Warren whispers and she shrugs.
"Bad luck I guess,"
"You're a brave woman," Warren says, handing Felicity her clothes again, "Don't let anyone tell you otherwise," The warm smile on her lips melts the cold pity that was forming in Felicity's heart.
"Thank you. That is really kind of you," she dresses quickly and rejoins Diggle and Roxy in the now-not-so-busy police lobby.
"Is that all, Diggle…I mean are we really done with that place?" Roxy asks as the three of them step out onto the darkened street.
"Pretty much. They need a warrant, but the raid is going to go down late tonight. You ladies should stay far away from the club…okay?"
"You don't need to tell me twice," Felicity mumbles.
"Likewise," Roxy adds, "How about we go back to your place for a celebratory toast?" Felicity grins.
"I'm totally down. Diggle, you wanna come?" he just smiles and shakes his head.
"As much as I would love to join you ladies, I have a security job to get back to…who knows how much trouble Oliver got himself into while I've been gone," Diggle says before the three of them get in his car and he drops the girls off at Felicity's apartment.
...
