I don't own the CW show The Flash or any DC characters found in this story. I only own my OCs.

Central City

April 1, 2014

'Steady breaths, don't let it overwhelm you' Stretching out her hand, Melody cautiously sent out a ripple of sound, head tilting to the side as the sound bounced back to her ears. "Mike, put that down." She said without opening her eyes, turning her head in his direction.

"That's cheating." Mike grumbled, carefully putting the delicate figurine back on the mantle and stepping away from the fireplace.

"Not cheating," Melody disagreed in a murmur, forehead scrunched in concentration. "It's, some form of echolocation. I'm not the greatest at it now, my range is terrible, but imagine how useful it'll be when I improve."

"Yeah," Mike drawled, draping himself across an armchair. "Now instead of spying on just your nearest and dearest, you can spy on everyone. What fun. Should I alert the CCPD now, or after the first national disaster?"

"Only national?" Melody's lips quirked. "I was thinking international. Go big or go home, you know? I wonder what the President gets up to when the First Lady isn't around." She mused to herself, eyes blinking open to stare at the ceiling as she pondered.

"Please tell me that's a joke and you're not actually at the point of blackmailing the president."

"Blackmail is such an ugly word, Mikey." Melody chided, rising to her feet and crossing the room to her desk. Plucking her shades from their resting spot she flicked them open and settled them on the bridge of her nose. "I prefer the term 'hush money.'"

"Bet you do, hey, why the shades?"

"Because we have guests." Melody replied, calmly settling behind her desk, fingers laced together, eyes fixed on the door. As if on cue, the heavy door slammed open and a shrieking, flailing woman was shoved through. Mike was on his feet in an instant, eyes blazing with fury as he recognized the person brought to them. Melody just smiled, a cold, cruel curl of her lips that Mike just knew she learned from Leonard.

"One conniving snake for you, as ordered boss." Jace said, keeping a heavy hand on the woman's shoulder to keep her from running off. His partner, Janet, kept a hand on her gun and her eyes sharp on their target.

"My, what a wonderful opportunity you two have brought me. I'm ever so grateful. Janet, feel free to stay. Jace, Marlene just arrived and unless my ears deceive me, the baby is rather fussy tonight. Go ahead and use the upstairs rooms if you so desire." Melody dismissed the large man with a nod. The man respectfully returned the gesture, giving his captive a terrifying look before leaving to join his wife and child.

"Families. They're ever so precious. Worth protecting. I protect my family every day, in everything I do. It's all for their benefit." Leaning back in her chair, Melody regarded the bedraggled woman with contemplative eyes. "What drives you, Miss Dillon? What encourages you to get up everyday to face the world?"

Rosa didn't reply, simply glared at Melody with the passion of a burning sun. Melody cocked an eyebrow. "Have you gone mute? I seem to recall you not being able to shut up last we met. Did the explosion rob you of your voice? Or did Len do that?"

Rosa flinched and like a Bloodhound smelling blood, Melody honed in on the reaction. "You were with him that night, weren't you Rosa? You, him, three others, and your little beau, Scudder." Rosa shook with suppressed rage at the mention of Scudder and Melody could almost taste the explosion waiting to happen. Just a little more. "And yet, of the six in the room, you're the only one my people have been able to find. Sammy finally ditch you?" She gave an exaggerated pout, expression pitying.

Rosa shrieked and tried to fling herself across the desk at Melody. Janet reached her first, grabbing her around the neck and tightening until she was gasping for air.

Melody smiled, calm and sure, rising to her feet and meandering around the desk like she had all the time in the world. Rosa was rapidly turning a sickly shade of purple and Melody tutted in concern. "Now now, Janet. She still has to answer our questions and besides, that's no way to treat a guest." Obediently, Janet relaxed her grip. Rosa fell to her knees, coughing and rubbing at her neck.

Crouching to her level, Melody reached out and tilted up the younger woman's chin until their eyes met. "Six people were in that room, one of whose life I value far above the rest, including your own. What happened that night, Rosa? Tell me what you remember, and you might just walk out of here in one piece."

"Oh, I'll be walking out of here in one piece alright." Rosa rasped out, before her eyes flared a sickly green. "You, on the other hand, might not be walking at all."

Melody frowned, stumbling back. "Mels?" Mike reached for her and she tried to grab his hand but found she couldn't quite focus on where exactly his hand was. The room was spinning and Melody felt nausea quickly rise as she tried to figure out what was happening.

"What did you do?!" Janet demanded, grabbing a fist of Rosa's hair and yanking her head back. This, however, only gave her direct eye contact with Rosa who again flashed her eyes green. Janet fell to the ground and retched, arms stretched out like she was trying to steady herself. Mike, seeing how quickly things had gone downhill, grabbed the closest table lamp and promptly smashed it over Rosa's head.

Rosa crumpled and immediately Melody's world snapped into focus. Jolting up, she grabbed onto the edge of her desk, letting the familiar texture ground her. Janet slowly rolled onto her knees, staring at Rosa with a dumbfounded expression. Mike just sighed and gave the lamp in his hands a disappointed frown.

"I picked these out myself." He whined, tossing it onto the couch. "Now look whats happened to it."

"Shit!" Melody swore, glaring at Rosa, completely ignoring her brother's complaint. "How in the everloving f-"

"What was that." Janet demanded, looking to Melody.

The meta froze, exchanging a lightning fast look with her brother before meeting Janet's eyes. For a long moment she simply studied the other woman, eyes trailing up and down her frame. Janet didn't move a muscle, knowing Melody was making a list of all the times Janet had both succeeded and failed in her tasks as well as her most defining moments in the club owners service. She had seen that same look twice before. Once, when a member of the Santini family had challenged Melody outright, and again when Angie had accused one of Melody's lieutenants of pedophilia. Both times the targets of the look had vanished without a trace and no matter how many fingers pointed in her direction, none of them could prove she had had anything to do with it. It was a very dangerous expression and so Janet didn't dare move in a way that would indicate disloyalty or anything other than strict obedience to the rules.

Finally, Melody blinked, and softly said, "This doesn't leave this room."

Janet was nodding before the sentence was finished, refusal not an option. Then her jaw dropped as Melody stretched out a hand, fingers flexing, and something pushed Rosa Dillon onto her back.

Pulling herself to her feet, Melody ignored her enforcers bewildered expression in favor of studying Rosa's still face.

"Guess you're not as special a cookie as you thought." Mike noted, joining his sister in peering down at the unconscious woman.

"You know, for once, I'd like to be wrong about something without truly horrifying revelations being the result." Melody drawled, shoving her hands in her pockets and leaning against the desk. "There's no other option is there? We need help."

"Don't sound too pleased there, sister dear." Mike teased, leaning his hip against the desk so he was perpendicular to Melody.

"I know when to admit I lack expertise, brother mine. Call Leslie, see when she's coming down from Gotham next, ask her if she can make a house call."

"Yes ma'am," Mike saluted, fishing his phone out of his back pocket and walking over to the corner of the room to contact the doctor.

"Janet, I need you to see to Dillon's accommodations. She's going to be staying with us for a little longer until the good doctor can take a look at her. Get her a blindfold if you can." Janet just stared at her employer.

Noticing the look, Melody sighed and held up her hands. "I will explain everything, you have my word. Just see to this first and when you have finished come to our rooms. Then I will answer your questions."

Janet hesitated, then nodded her agreement. Melody Piper never went back on her word, not unless the other party did first. She always joked it was the Piper's blood in her, leading her to give people the benefit of the doubt. But if they broke word with her, well, everyone knew the story of Hamelin. Melody had proven her steel and no one truly wise was willing to push her. Especially those who threatened the inner circle, a collection of family and friends that the meta surrounded herself with and would guard with her life.

Leonard Snart being one of those friends and Janet almost gave Dillon a pitying glance as she lifted her over her shoulder to carry her to one of Melody's less friendly guest bedrooms. She'd hear her explanation out and reserve judgement until she knew everything. She'd worked for Melody for five years now and they had been some of the best years of her life, she owed the woman that much, at the very least. Still, her story had better be good.