A/N: I would really appreciate SOME feedback...just like a heads up to let me know whether I'm doing good with this story. That you like it and want me to continue or that you hate it and want me to stop or give me some suggestions! I know you guys are reading it, but I would like some reviews every once in a while!
I hate to be the writer who sounds needy...but I would like reviews please.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Enjoy!
Chapter: 28
The phone rang. It rang and rang and rang. Liam paced nervously around the dorm room. Tim was still at the computer typing up an essay that was due when their break was over while Ali flipped through a computer science textbook that was lying on the bed. Whether she understood it at all was a mystery and Liam didn't dare ask her if she did. The phone rang for so long that he was sure it would go to voicemail, or self destruct, he wasn't sure. He was about to hang up and try again when it stopped ringing and the click that indicated someone was answering the phone echoed in his ear,
"Hello?" a gruff voice answered. A voice he remembered from two years ago, so familiar that Liam didn't answer right away, "Hello?" the voice asked again, this time insistent and suspicious,
"G-Grant?" Liam stuttered, silence reigned for a full minute before Grant answered,
"How did you get this number?" Liam was too stunned to answer, he didn't even know what he should say, someone could be listening or it might not even be Grant. Tim let out an impatient sound stood and held out his hand, pausing only when the lights randomly started to flicker,
"Don't worry, they always do that," Liam said. Tim gave him a look that qualified as a impatient glare and Liam wordlessly gave it to him and he put it on speaker before speaking,
"Grant, this is Tim Drake. Tori's half-brother. We know about Adam and that he's an abductee from Mac's experiment. We also know that you work for the person that supposedly funded the whole experiment…do you know who it is?" Ali, who had somehow migrated to the computer looked up with a bored expression,
"Lex Luthor," she stated flatly in the same breath as Grant,
"How do you know that Ali?" Liam demanded just as Grant asked it,
"The encrypted emails. The textbook was really helpful and I'm good at math—,"
"—You hacked my emails?" Grant snapped, outraged. That just made Liam angry,
"Seriously? You're angry about that? Just about your fucking emails? We have been worried sick about you for the past two years and it turns out you are working with the man who funded the scientist's work that caused us to lose our sister for a full year and on top of that gave her unwanted superpowers oh and caused our parents to fucking die!" Grant took a deep breath, Liam could almost see him pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration,
"It's not that simple. When I took this job all I knew was that I was part of Luthor's security detail, Riley and I were living together and we were financing ourselves fairly well,"
"Yeah, I know. I've seen the apartment that seems to lack your presence,"
"…that was not my choice," Grant said, "You know us, our family. We're fast learners. I got promoted fast, and as I rose in the ranks of the security service I heard whispers of some sketchy project Lex was working on. I wanted to know what it was so I worked harder and got promoted to head of security and eventually to protecting Luthor himself…though sometimes it feels like I'm really just his coffee boy,"
"Yeah, you really are just his little bitch," Liam agreed bitterly,
"Liam!" Ali gasped in shock,
"What. It's true," Liam snapped, "How could you not know something was up? No, actually how could you know something was up and not do anything about it?! Why didn't you call the police?! Why continue under his employment,"
"You know the answer to that," Tim, who had been listening silently, stated. Though there was a slight echo of annoyance in his tone,
"I did try to call the police but Luthor had eyes everywhere…and I mean everywhere,"
"Riley," Liam muttered, "He used Riley to keep you working for him,"
"But why?" Tim asked "Why not just kill you? Or fire you?"
"Because he thinks he can blackmail Tori," Grant said, "Luthor's project was using Adam's Bionics to create a portal between the two dimensions. He was paid a lot of money to keep Mac's experiments running. But when he was caught Luthor bailed on the whole plan. He couldn't pay bail, that would place too much suspicion on him and I actually doubt there actually was bail for Mac, either way Luthor couldn't do anything. He told me to kill Adam,"
"Instead you saved him…did Luthor find out?" Tim asked,
"He knows Adam's alive…not exactly how he isn't dead. And I've been elusive on the details,"
"That's risky, for both you and Riley," Tim said,
"But he still needs you. He won't do anything," Ali said, sounding hopeful,
"Hopefully," Grant muttered, "For almost six months since his order Adam stayed hidden with me and Riley. But then things changed. Luthor realized Adam was still alive and sent search parties for him, eventually the search led back to me. Luthor was mad, but he didn't kill me or anything and I don't know why. I can't be open about trying to avoid capturing Adam, yet I still have to search for him and since the baby's due soon I can't risk ruining anything else,"
"I'm sorry to hear that," Tim said, "But we need you to ruin something else just this once,"
"Did you not just hear me—?"
"I'm Red Robin," Tim said, "I can help,"
"You really shouldn't go around just telling people that," Ali stated from the swivel chair,
"Luthor already knows that, but that's besides the point. You need to—,"
"—did you not just hear what I said?" Grant interrupted, "I'm on thin ice as it is. I can't do anything that'll risk myself and Riley or the baby,"
"You're a hostage. Luthor's not going to do anything to you. Hurting you risks any chances of Tori not testifying against Mac or Luthor in the trial. And you'll want to do this,"
"And why's that?"
"Adam's been captured again. He's probably being taken to Luthor as we speak. We've put a tracker on him but can't get the trace of the tracker because there's a scrambler interfering with it, but if you somehow turn all the power off, generators included, we can track him and get him out of where ever he is,"
"Damn it Adam," Grant hissed. He was silent for a minute before replying, "I can do better than turn off the power, I can get you into the building without being seen and I know where Luthor would hold Adam. If he's back to his old plan it will be exactly where he held him before,"
"Good," Tim said, "But this is still less than easy,"
"Agreed, the security team's well trained and they have guns,"
"We have stealth on our side," Tim said, "We can get in and out without being spotted,"
"We? Is Batman coming?" Tim didn't answer right away, and it was then that Liam realized that Batman didn't actually know all that had occurred last night and on top of that the whole crime fighting family was stretched thin. Only Bruce, Tim, Damian and Stephanie to protect to whole city…rescuing Adam and patrolling the city at the same time was near impossible,
"We have this covered,"
"That's not a clear answer," Grant stated,
"I said we'll get this done. Tomorrow we'll come up with a plan and a timeline. We need this to be perfect otherwise Luthor will know we're onto him and that Grant helped us,"
"Agreed," Grant said, "Until tomorrow,"
"You still owe us two years!" Ali snapped right before Grant hung up,
"How are we going to get Batman to go through with this? You guys still need to protect Gotham," Liam stated,
"That's just it. Batman is going to patrol Gotham, as are Damian and Stephanie,"
"Then how—?"
"Simple. You're coming with me."
A/N: Okay things are happening! That is it for today, next chapter on Monday and another Short Story on this Wednesday!
And really pretty pretty please REVIEW! :)
