A/N: Hello! Sorry about the wait. I'd hoped to get this finished and out the weekend after Valentine's Day, but my life turned to hell for awhile. My grandmother passed away on Vday, which was very difficult for me and my family. My cat also got sick and I found out he's got Herpes, which isn't life threatening or anything, but requires a lot of monitoring and some medication. Anyway, it's been crazy. I wanted to get something out, though, and while it's short, I hope it can tide you guys over until I get the rest of this part written. I figured it'd b good for you guys to hear from me so you didn't think I fell off the earth.

Oh, and raindropdew, thank you for the email on Valentine's Day. It was very sweet. I would have emailed you back, but obviously other things came up.

Thanks again for the reviews and favorites. You guys are the best! Enjoy! (also, let me know if the spacing on this chapter looks weird. I had to copy-paste it instead of upload it, so I think the formatting might be off).

Gaining access to Vice's grounds, I was able to locate Henry's old room. If he'd kept some kind of documentation, it's no longer there. All I could find were six words carved under his bed. Not The Men, But The Man. I still don't know what to make of that, however, a roommate of Henry's claims he was talking to Viper, a gang leader in Insane City. If that's true, this conspiracy might just be too big to tackle. Of course, that's the least of my problems. Vice has something planned for me.

Status Report 6: Trade

The ringing in my head brings me back to the world of the living and I struggle to open my eyes. There's a bright light shining, blinding me, and there's something cold around my wrists. Shit. What have I gotten myself into?

Forcing open my eyes, it's impossible to see what's around me, but the rest of my senses start to kick in. I'm handcuffed and their looped over something because I'm suspended, feet not even grazing the ground. The pain in my shoulders tells me I've been here for awhile-probably for however long I've been out. The back of my head is throbbing. Damn, whoever blitzed me hits fucking hard.

Despite all of that, I can't figure anything else out. The light in front of me makes everything surrounding my field of vision ebony. From what I can tell, there isn't anyone in here but me. Lucky, lucky. Testing the restraints that are locking me to the ceiling, they don't so much as budge. Frowning, I let out a frustrated sigh.

That's when a figure steps into the brightness, a black silhouette staining the pure shine. I recognize the voice instantly, a snarl forming on my lips as he speaks, "I've got to admit, you look good hanging from there."

"Vice."

The figures hands shoot up in defense, "Hey, don't go getting all angry with me, Cole."

I'd love to hear his reasoning for that. His feet bring him closer to me, details becoming visible. That obnoxious smirk is covering his pompous face. "I was worried there for a while. You've been out for nearly a whole day."

A whole day? Damn, whoever clocked me is going to pay when I get out of this mess. I'll knock them out for much longer than a day. "So, are you going to explain why you're doing this? I thought we were working together to find the info."

"Oh, no, I already know where it is."

I'm pissed and I don't try to hide it. "What!"

The blonde crosses his arms over his chest, "It wasn't long after I learned about Patrick's betrayal that Viper came up to me and gave me an ultimatum. She told me she'd become aware of the turncoat and got herself all cozy with the Intel he had."

"Cut to the chase. That doesn't explain why I'm here."

Vice's smug expression turns sour. "In exchange for the information, she wanted one of Red's men."

Why? What purpose does that serve? It's not like Red's one of those super compassionate types who would give up everything to protect one of his own. Holding me hostage will accomplish nothing. But there's no other reason, is there? And I'm still trying to figure out how Viper learned about Patrick in the first place.

"So," Kennedy speaks, shifting his weight to one foot, "I did the only thing I could do."

I frown, "Pulled in some favors and got yourself a Red Man." His smirks speaks miles. He's enjoying this way too much. What a bastard. "So when is she going to come and pick me up?"

"Soon enough." He walks to the other side of the room, disappearing from the shine and fading into the surrounding ink. "She has this habit of showing up fashionably late.

"Kind of tacky, isn't it?"

I can hear him shifting around the perimeter of my vision, metal clicking against metal. "You can bring that up with her when she gets here."

Right. I'll definitely do that. Hey Viper, your arrival habits suck. Oh, sorry Piers, you're right. Because you showed me the light, I'll let you go. And as a favor, I'll shank Vice between the ribs. Thanks Viper, you're such a pal. That conversation would go over well.

Several minutes of near silence pass, Vice entertaining himself with one thing or another outside my window of vision. It isn't long before I hear a knocking on what sounds like a window. The thing slides open and the click of heels pierces the silence.

"Well, well," Vice says, a sort of catty tone taking over his voice, "Look who finally decided to show up."

"Please, Leon, you know I like to make you wait." Her voice is smooth and sensual, and reminds me of the phone sex operators I've heard through wire taps on terrorists phones. But it's different too, it has confidence. It's not the faked kind someone includes when faced with a trying situation. It's legit confidence. She knows she's got control of everything.

That means she's very dangerous.

"Is this my guy?" She asks, heels clicking their way behind me. I can feel her eyes sliding up and down my body. "He's one of Red's guys, alright."

Vice's footsteps follow hers, "It wasn't easy to get him, you know. I had to cash in a hard earned favor to get him here."

She doesn't sound the least bit sorry in her reply, "I'm sure you went through a lot of trouble." Finally, she circles around to the front, blotting out the light. She's a slender woman whose short dark hair frames her face. Even in the faded outline, I can see her eyes. They demand authority and show no hint of emotion. It's no wonder she's found herself on the CIA's watch list. She's no ordinary woman-not like the ones I've seen run gangs before. Those woman, while tough, still let themselves become attached. This woman looks like she doesn't care about anything, the only thing she'll get attached to is power and money.

In one hand, she's holding a file. Must be the info.

Shifting her weight to one hip, she states, "He doesn't look like much."

"He's not terribly tough, but he's bright. He even figured out you had the information before I took care of him."

If this peaked her interest, I can't tell. "So, you're a little bit of a rat, hm? Cute." She turns towards Vice-I think-and nods her had towards the handcuffs restraining me. It isn't a minute later that the things are unhooked and I fall to the floor. I try to catch myself, maintain some of my dignity, but my legs crumble under me and I face plant on the ground. Placing a hand to my face, I let out a hiss. My face isn't the only thing that's bruised.

She looks towards me now, "Get up."

For a second, I consider trying to throw myself at her. I might be able to pin her down, but I'm not sure what I'd do after that. I could surprise her, grab the info and then…Well, Vice would be on my by that time. So, doing the smart thing, I stand up.

She gives me a very sly smile but says nothing. She starts walking, Viper's long legs trailing towards Kennedy. "I'm proud of you, Leon." Her hand comes and rests on his cheek and I try not to roll my eyes. God, Red had mentioned something about his previous involvement with Viper. It reads all over his face that he's totally not done with that involvement, even though he says he is.

"The information?" He asks. She places the file against the blonde's chest.

"All yours." She whispers, a playful tone accenting her words.

It's then-in the middle of their painful banter-that I see what Vice had been mindlessly occupying his time with. He'd been cleaning guns. My eyes quickly swipe to the other side of the room. A door.

Now.

I clear the distance between myself and the counter holding the weapons in one step, my hands pulling a .9 mm into my hands. I can tell by the weight. It's loaded. In the moment it takes for the two of them to turn their attention on me, I fire a shot, the bullet headed straight for Vice's skull. He ducks. Bits of concrete flying as the bullet lodges itself into the wall behind him.

I'm not wasting any time. Their brief moment of confusion is all I need. Throwing myself between them, I grab the files and bolt to the door. Their shouts follow after me as I push open the steel door and enter the dark hallway.