"You've got to be fucking kidding me!" Alex roared, her fists smacking the dashboard of Captain Sawyers vehicle.

Maggie gave her a scolding look as she held the steering wheel, the car weaving through traffic while the ex-director's conference call spoke through her car's speakers. The mood wasn't good after Brainy's little revelation. "I've got my officers out looking for this Henry Irons. What can you tell us about him?"

"You mean apart from the fact he's been hiding under our noses for months?" Alex groaned. "Colonel Haley is going to crucify me for this."

"You're not the head of the DEO any more, this isn't your fault" Kara told her.

"He was employed under my watch" Alex replied curtly, feeling like an idiot.

Supergirl had flown into the DEO after getting the call from Nia about the Blacksmith, beating Dreamer to the base along with J'onn. The two of them were with her in costume as Brainy filled them in on his attempt to apprehend the suspect. Olsen was on the online, presently at his home getting changed into his guardian outfit. Everyone was gearing up to get into the city to look for him. Alex and Maggie practically leapt into the car the moment the APB was issued. "We'll find him" Maggie assured her. "We know every inch of this city. He won't get far."

"I have notified the coast guard and air traffic control to monitor all flights and ships in the country" Brainy reported. "I have the borders locked down checking everyone and everything that crosses it, with satellites monitoring the city. It will be difficult for someone of even his resources to sneak out without being detected."

"What about his allies?" J'onn queried. "The Blacksmith has many clients. He could call on any of them for help."

"We're working through our list of known associates now" Brainy nodded.

"We already know of one associate he might turn to" Olsen said.

The group nodded, already thinking the same. "I've dispatched a second unit to monitor Jake White. If Henry Irons does attempt to get his aid, we'll know."

"If Jake helps the blacksmith it'll help build our case against him too" Nia realised.

"Is it bad that I'm hoping the bad guys do team up?" Olsen queried.

"In this instance we're counting on it" J'onn agreed. "But just in case I recommend we go out and try to find him ourselves. Remember, capturing this man is the key to stopping not just his weapons enterprise, or the spread of kryptonite in the world, but also bringing the Reckoning to justice."

Kara and Nia nodded, both jogging in their respective directions to get out into the streets on patrol. Olsen clicked off his phone to jump on his bike too. That left Brainy on the line with Alex. "You had no way of knowing" Brainy told her calmly. "I put him on the team that secure the interview room. What happened is my responsibility."

"We could go around in circles passing the blame game Brainy" Alex sighed. "The important thing is we know now, thanks you to and Dreamer. Keep me up to date" she asked, hanging up her phone.

Maggie looked at the red haired woman, her features drawn narrow and exhausted. "Cheer up. This is the break we've been waiting for" she said confidently.

"We still need to catch him" Alex pointed out. "If he gets away, if he slips through our fingers…" she didn't want to think about how screwed they'd be. He's not just their big break, he's their only hope to catching Jake.

"We'll get him" Maggie told her. "You've got your team, I've got my officers, and we all want to bring this guy down. Henry Irons isn't getting away."

Alex looked at the woman and smile, appreciating the vote of confidence. "So where do we start?" she asked, noting they weren't driving to the DEO.

"Where all good manhunts start, at the beginning" she replied, inputting the address on file into her sat nav and turning her sirens on.

It was incredible how quickly news travels in National City. No sooner had the alerts gone out for the public to be on the lookout for a dangerous fugitive that every network in the city was broadcasting the story. Reports gave a full description for Henry Irons urging the public to call the authorities if they had any information about his whereabouts, warning them the man is considered very dangerous and potentially armed. His face was broadcast across the city to every household, along with a step by step review of the manhunt so far.

Jake stood at the kitchen counter of his hotel room rapping the surface with his index finger, the only sign of his anxiety on show as he watched the TV screen intently. He listened to the reports detail how he's suspected in a number of crimes linked to weapons smuggling and distribution. He was amazed they didn't outright identify him as the black market figure he was suspected of being. He reached under the counter and pulled out a bottle of whisky, pouring a large glass and gulping it down in one go. He wasn't a heavy drinker, but suddenly it seemed like the appropriate time to start. He walked over to the curtains, pulled closed since last night. He'd awoken to the story of the manhunt and hadn't had time to open them. He peeked out through the blinds down to the street, seeking out the surveillance van he knew was parked across the street. His eyes drifted further up and noted a new unmarked car had also set up residence, their occupants remaining in their seats. Shit he thought, taking another gulp of his whisky shaking the buzz as it burned his throat.

His anxiety was interrupted by the vibrating of a mobile phone. He walked over to the counter where he left it, picking it up and looking at the screen. The vibrating continued as he realised this wasn't the phone holding a call. He looked around the room until he considered the emergency burner he kept in his trunk. He ran to the wardrobe and fished out an old flip phone he picked up at a marketplace. Pay as you go, virtually untraceable, paid with cash. He flipped it open and brought it to his ear. "Henry?" he asked.

"It's me kid" Henry Iron's voice whispered back, letting him release a sigh of relief.

Jake stood up and checked around the hotel room. He doubted it was bugged but he needed to be sure nobody was listening. He prayed they weren't desperate enough to risk a lawsuit of violation of privacy and asked his friend and mentor "what the hell happened?"

"My cover was blown" he replied calmly. "I don't know how, but they worked out I was a person of interest. I guess I wasn't as careful as you warned me to be" he joked.

"This isn't funny" Jake said, pacing around the bedroom thinking a mile a minute. "The whole city is looking for you. Your face in on the TV and everything."

"I'll be fine kid" he assured him. "I've been laying low much longer than you have."

Jake hoped he wasn't exaggerating as he calmed down and controlled his breathing. "Where are you?" he asked more calmly.

"On the move. I'll be back at the workshop in an hour or two" he replied.

"And then?"

"And then we'll work it out. First I need to make a stop at my place and grab some things."

Jake's eyes widened. "Are you insane? That's the first place they go looking for you!"

"There are items there I won't leave behind" Henry explained. "Including a copy of my address book. We can't have the police or FBI getting their hands on that, not unless you want our clients to be getting visits from their respective law enforcement."

Jake scowled. That would be bad all round. The Blacksmith had some very dangerous customers who would rather murder them than let the police find out about their business. But returning to his house in the city was risky, too risky. "Okay, tell me where you are and I'll come meet you" he said, already moving to put his shoes on.

"Absolutely not kid!" Henry barked. "If they're looking for me they sure as hell must be watching you. You won't be able to step out that hotel without the DEO breathing down your neck."

"I can't just sit here and leave you to get caught" Jake argued.

"You have to. No sense in us both getting caught. Hang tight, I'll call you when I can. I'll have to burn this phone now." after a hesitant pause the man added "it'll be alright kid. I know what I'm doing." With that he hung up and the line went dead.

Jake stared at the screen indicating the number was no longer in service, slamming it closed suppressing the scream in his throat. God-damnit, this is bad he thought, pacing the room again checking out the window. Henry was right, if he left the hotel he'd end up leading the DEO right to him. But if they caught him it'd be game over for them both. He wasn't worried about Henry giving him up so the police could arrest him from his crimes as the Reckoning. Their clients were dangerous. Once they get wind the Blacksmith is in FBI custody they'll have him murdered within the hour, and it won't be painless. Jake's anxiety reached fever pitch as he circled the room, thinking about how much of a mentor the old man had been to him in the last couple of years. He owed him a lot, too much to just let it go. He had to do something, even if he couldn't go out himself.

He looked at the burner phone on the bed and had an idea. It was a long shot, but he didn't have any better options. He picked it up and punched in the number he'd memorised over a year ago. Now he had to pray it was still valid.

The music from the stereo played at full blast as the man continued his bench-press, his huge muscles rippling across his dark skin as he grunted through the last few reps. His biceps bulged as he pulled his perfectly toned body up one last time before dropping down on two solid bare feet. He released a slow exhale as the sweat glistened from his bulky flesh, the sunlight shining on his half naked frame. He stepped forward and lit up another cigarette, the smoke billowing from his mouth and nostrils as he walked through the private gym confidently. The mobile buzzed atop the bench behind him, interrupting his workout. He answered it curtly, professional, hiding the scowl on his face. "Yes?" he asked in a deep voice.

"It's me" Jake's voice said, no need for introductions. They both know who they were talking to.

"It's been a while" the man said with surprise, taking a pull from his fag walking back to the window, dapping his sweaty body with a towel. "You know I don't like social calls" he said coldly.

"This isn't a social call. A mutual friend of ours in in trouble and could use some assistance."

"What kind of trouble?"

"The kind that needs him to get out of the country for a while."

The man growled, sensing a job. "How hot are we talking?"

"Very."

"And the client?"

"Our mutual friend. The man who makes your toys" he replied.

The man glanced across to his work gear outside the gym, a new breath of understand crossing the pair of them. "That bad huh. Forgive me for stating the obvious, but didn't I train you for this kind of thing?"

"You trained me for a lot of things, DuBois" Jake said. "But I'm afraid I'm not in a position to help, not without putting our friend at risk. That's why I'm calling in that favour."

His scowl returned, this time not shy about giving it away as he sighed. Amateurs he thought. "I'll ensure his safety for the favour" he agreed. "But any more than that, you know my fee."

"Fair enough" Jake agreed. "How soon can you get to National City?"

The mercenary looked out of the window, glimpsing the iconic golden globe of the Daily Planet through the city skyline. "You're in luck, it shouldn't take me long" he replied with a confident smile.