12. Batwoman uncovered
Office work had never been her favorite part of the job. Sitting at a desk all day, staring at the computer screen, was not what Sophie was made for. She wanted to be outside, wanted to move around, do something. Yet, today she had spent most of the time searching for evidence and when they had what they needed, she was relieved it was done.
"Everything is ready for the showdown." Luke looked pale and at the same time grounded. They had found out what really happened to his father, they not only had found evidence, they had found a video. A video of the killing and they'd air it soon.
"Kate, Sophie, you go to the Miller-Reid estate, I don't want them to escape. If they try to run, follow them, don't leave them."
"Julia and I will take the van and send the video to everybody around us," Luke said. They hadn't found a way to hack into all electronic devices, the way Parker had done it, they couldn't do it. Firewalls were better now, they had used the information how she accessed the systems to close these doors. What was possible, was to access the phones and other devices, when they were close to them.
"I go live with the evidence in half an hour, get ready."
Sophie got up. She and Kate would take a car and watch the estate. Taking her gun and a bullet proved vest she realized how much she missed her tackle outfit. The three pieces suit was all right, her tackling gear was what she liked most.
"This what we had planned for our future," Kate mumbled when they were in the car.
"I know." Working together had been their dream, the thing they had imagined back at Point Rock. Until the circumstances had ruined everything.
"You could work for the Crows." It was what Kate had wanted when she came back here.
"No, my dad and I would get into each other's face every day. We have different ideas about who needs to be protected. The Crows protect the wealthy people, who can afford to pay for their safety. I want all people to be and feel safe."
Like Batwoman did. The Crows could not hold a candle to her and as happy as Sophie was to be back at work, she'd choose to work with Batwoman in the blink of an eye.
"We can apply with Batwoman, we'd be a hell of a team."
"I thought she works alone."
"Which doesn't have to he the best way to work. Sometimes, you need a team, you need backup."
"She has you, you helped her, which got you suspended."
"I'd do it again, without hesitation. Your father knows my opinion about this and I haven't changed my mind about Batwoman."
"No, the two of you are close, you sent messages, wish each other goodnight. Sounds like there could be more than an occasionally help with a case."
Sophie wished it would. "I feel safe with her." Like she did with Kate. "It's what she wants people to feel. We could use her help today too; we're up against a big opponent."
"Imagine her and dad working together. That's riot going to happen."
No, The Crows wanted to switch off the Bat sign for good. "I guess Batman and Batwoman will always feel like a rival to your father. Having both of them here would be amazing for Gotham, we might be able to make the city a better place with them."
"The problem is, Batman is gone."
"Yes and I will never understand why. Or, I don't want to understand why, Surely, there has been more than one occasion Batman must have felt like his work is not appreciated. When you risk your life every night and people hate you, call you names, you might get sick and tired of these people."
"Again, I think it's mostly the rich families, that complain. The poor people are grateful somebody cares for them."
And the Crows didn't. Kate was right, the Crows should care for all people. Maybe they could change a few things when this was over.
"Your father is online and so is the video." Sophie saw on her phone how the upload of the security video popped up on social media pages. This meant, it had been sent to reporters and the police and Commander Kane was live on the big screen in the Crows HQ now.
"Let the games begin. What do you think, how much time do they need to run?"
"A good question. They might try to reach Gonzales first or they know he has vanished and run right away. Kevin still lives here, he should run, the rest of his family will stay."
"I still can't believe he killed Lucius because he was proud of his son."
"I can." A black man telling a rich, spoiled, white man that his son was smarter than he was reason enough to kill him. It was what happened when you were proud and black, you got killed. Having a smart black person was not acceptable.
"We'll catch him if he runs and there is nothing he can do to make us let him go."
"No." Sophie didn't care for the money, she wanted this man in Arkham.
"There is some action, a garage opens."
A few seconds later a black Porsche shot out of the garage, gravels flying high and wheels squeaked when the car hit the road. Kate had started the car and was behind it. Their car had no chance against a Porsche on the highway, but until Kevin was there, he had a few miles of city roads in front of him.
"One person in the car." Sophie had problems to keep the binoculars steady enough to look into the car.
"One coward. At least he was smart enough to understand his name and money won't help him this time."
"It also means he is guilty, otherwise he wouldn't run," Sophie added.
"The whole family is guilty of more crimes than ten percent of Gotham. I'd love to take a higher number, the thing is, there are too many criminals in our city."
"We're working on that." Sophie grabbed the handle to stay on her seat when Kate pulled the car to the left.
"Kevin realized he has company."
"He also realized he has four times more horse power than we have."
"This doesn't mean I let him escape."
Sophie hoped nobody got into their way, she doubted Kevin would stop for anybody or anything. They passed buildings, that looked blurred due to the speed and people she couldn't recognize, because they were gone the second she saw them. When they left the city she exhaled. Less people meant less chances to hurt somebody.
"There is a transverse truck, he has to stop."
Unless he wanted to crash into it, the Porsche was not high, yet too high to fit beneath the trailer. Sophie braced for a sudden stop and squeaked when she saw how Kevin's car was pulled into a turn and suddenly faced them, picking up speed.
"Shit."
"He's going to crash into us." She didn't expect him to stop or drive off the road, he would drive straight into them, not caring if they git hurt or not.
"Prepare for impact."
How? Brace position? They weren't in a plane. Sophie tried to relax her body while her hand grabbed the handle like her life depended on it. Maybe it did.
Like he did at the truck, Kevin pulled the car around, but this time he also stopped. The moment Sophie realized why he had stopped the first bullet hit the windscreen.
"Damn it." She tried to bow and heard more bullets hit the car.
"Fuck!" Kate stopped the car and pulled it over. He had made it around them. "Fucker."
"We could use some backup." Sophie pulled her phone out of her pocket and dialed Julia's number. "Kevin shot at us, we could use some help."
"On our way."
They'd never be anywhere near them before they reached the highway. Kevin was heading for it now, unless their friends were somewhere between them and the highway, Kevin would get away.
"Take the wheel," Kate said.
"What?"
"Take the wheel, he is not the only one, who can shoot."
"That's crazy." They were too fast for her to take over.
"We've done crazier things."
Oh hell, it didn't matter how they died. Sophie took the wheel and concentrated to stay on the road, slightly right so Kate had a better angle to shoot. She was the best shooter Point Rock had ever seen,, if anybody could hit a speeding car, it was Kate.
"Hit!"
Kevin's car skidded but before Kate shoot a second time, there was a heavy impact to the back. Sophie tried to keep the car on the road, but she lost control as she couldn't grab the steering wheel right. Like in slow motion she saw them skidding towards the talus. She was sure she was yelling and so was Kate, yet she didn't hear it, her eyes were fixed on the bushes that were coming closer and then their car drove off the road. Sophie closed her eyes, pain shot through her body, she hit her head and although her eyes were closed she knew their car overturned twice before it stopped. On the roof.