Chapter 7- Making Plans and Secret's Out
Felicity stood at a work station typing and Anna sat at what Alena said was Cayden's station before he was arrested. Anna had already gone through her father's desk. "Cayden never told anyone that he had a family," Alena said.
"I know. Dad was kind of private that way. He never told me or my brother anything about Helix. He said it was for our protection when we asked him about it. Why does A.R.G.U.S have him, Alena? What did he do?" Anna asked.
"He hacked into their server and let's just say that A.R.G.U.S. didn't like it," Alena said, a little too brightly for Anna's liking.
"Just let me talk to my friends at A.R.G.U.S. Maybe we can negotiate for Cayden's release," Felicity said, grasping at straws apparently. Felicity turned to look at Alena as she laughed.
"Sorry. It's just funny, you know? "Negotiate with A.R.G.U.S," Alena said, taking a sip of the tea she had in her hand.
"They can't be made to see reason, Alena?" Anna asked as she stood.
"No. I'm thinking your father probably tried to reason with them and it didn't work," Alena said.
"Seriously, I really think it will. Just hold off on taking the second key," Felicity said.
"A.R.G.U.S. won't even admit they that they have Cayden. Besides plan's already in motion," Alena said with a smug, self-contained smile.
"What did you do?" Anna and Felicity asked at the same time.
"Don't worry. I hired professionals this time," Anna said in what she apparently thought was a calming voice.
"I'm worried," Anna muttered under her breath.
"Professionals?" Felicity asked, looking as nervous as Anna felt.
"One casualty was enough for this girl's conscience," Alena said, looking at the floor as if it was the most interesting thing in the world.
"Like mercenaries?" Felicity asked, raising her eyebrows.
"You really can buy anything on the internet," Alena said, taking a drink of tea.
Felicity's cell phone then chimed. "Well, are your internet thugs headed to Port Talbert? Because they're about to have some company," Felicity asked as she looked at her phone.
"Felicity, you might want to call Oliver and Mr. Diggle to ease off. The last thing that's need is the Green Arrow and his friends tailing them and possibly getting killed by mercs," Anna said.
"Wait, you know? Felicity asked.
"Yeah, I know. I heard you, Oliver, Mr. Diggle, and Thea talking about it one night and I was also curious to why he sometimes wasn't home late at night and then hear about drug busts or thieves being stopped," Anna whispered.
"All right. I'll call them. Hey, John, I know you have to protect that agent. I know you have to protect her, but I need you to let those guys get away with her security key," Felicity said a few minutes later. A five-second silence followed. "Do it, John! I have a reason which I will explain," Felicity said as she hung up.
Anna stood in wonder in the bunker. So this was the Green Arrow's lair? Oliver seemed to accept that Anna now knew his secret and, to Anna's relief, Mr. Diggle and his wife Lyla hadn't questioned why she was there. Felicity so far had done most of the talking. "It's the only way to catch Chase," Felicity said.
"No, it's not. But even if it were. at what cost? Agent Ditkoff could've been killed," Lyla Diggle disagreed.
"No, the team was there to make sure," Felicity said, indicating Oliver and Mr. Diggle.
"She could have been killed, just like Agent Pierce," Lyla said.
"We told you that was an accident," Anna said.
"And now, two keys are in the wind, and A.R.G.U.S. is vulnerable. What were the two of you thinking?" Lyla asked angrily.
"That we need to catch Chase, no matter what. Guys, a little support here," Felicity said, looking at Oliver and Diggle.
"Might be crossing a line, Felicity," Oliver said.
"Well, you're the last person on Earth that gets to give that lecture, Oliver. Or second to last. And don't tell me that you don't make morally questionable choices so that I don't have to. I have to," Anna said, looking at Oliver, Diggle, and Lyla in turn.
"No, you don't, Anna, you don't have to. Lyla's right. There are better ways for us to find Chase," Diggle said.
"Chase has been in the wind for a week. He was trained by Talia al Ghul. He knows how to stay in the wind. What other leads do we have? How else are we gonna bring Adrian Chase to justice unless A.R.G.U.S. lets go of Cayden James?" Felicity asked, looking at Lyla.
"Not a chance," Lyla said.
"Then our only choice is to help Helix," Anna said as she and Felicity walked away from the computers.
"Your only choice? Felicity, Anna, I thought we were on the same side here," Diggle asked.
"No, John, me and Anna are on the side that's gonna put Chase away, so that he can't hurt anyone ever again," Felicity said as she and Anna turned to walk away again.
"Hey, Felicity, Anna," Oliver called after them.
Let them go, man. Now is not the time," Diggle said as Anna turned back.
"And, Mr. Diggle you might wanna ask your wife who Cayden James is. How he was at a basketball game and she locked him up with no due process or trial. You might want to ask how many laws she has broken just to hold my father. How many civil rights she has trampled on," Anna said as she walked out of the bunker.