Chapter 8

Kate

Anger and rage threatened to burst through her entire body. She had been relocated from her enclosed closet room to an apartment with barsad and few other men that Bane had assigned to her. She was given everything that she asked for, all the last known information of every cop In Gotham that by chance had the day off, leave of absent or on medical leave during the fall of the city. So there was a possibility that they weren't trapped in the tunnels like the rest of Gotham PD. She planned to go through the list with a fine tooth comb. Bane explained that these men were at her disposable and that they would carry out whatever she requested of them. Barsad was to oversee this task that she had been given. Bane ordered the family to be taken as collateral. He explained that if she escaped or if at any time her team felt that they were being misled, they would be executed starting with the children.

Barsad wasn't at all fazed by anything. He carried on like nothing had happened. And that pissed her off the most, she felt stupid that she had forgotten who he was and what he was capable of. She had forgotten that he was Bane's second in command and she forgot that he was known as Deadshot for a reason. She hated herself for letting him get to her; she didn't realize how much of herself she let him see. He knew, of course he knew about what happened to her during her two years in the border town.

She paced the room that she was given over and over again. She was allowed privacy and weapons, Bane and Barsad had no problem putting them in her hands. Kate had no choice but to accept the deal. She had to do whatever it took to keep them from being harmed. She would do everything within her power to try and track down Jim by all means necessary.

A knock came at her door. Before she could say anything Barsad stepped in. "What the fuck do want?" she hissed. Barsad snickered, "we have work in the morning. Have you decided how you want to do this?" he asked, the fact that he could still smile and be courtesy sickened her to the core. She raised her eye brow and went over to the bed and pulled out the information that Bane had given her. "It's simple. Everyone to the kitchen table now." She ordered and walked pass Barsad.

There were nine of them all together, she included. The seven that Bane had assigned were just as loyal and dedicated as Barsad. They followed every order and command without question. They didn't talk much but Kate didn't care. She didn't want to know them on any level. She set up the map on the table and one by one they came silently and crowded around the table.

"Our first stop will be to Jim's house."

"We've already been there." Said one of the mercenaries'

"I don't give a fuck. You never knew Jim the way I do. You don't know where or what you're looking for." She snapped

Barsad chuckled and shook his head from amusement. Kate glared at him, "what's so funny?" she asked in a stern voice. Barsad continued to smile. "It's been awhile since I've seen this side of you." Barsad replied, the others glanced at Kate and then over to Barsad . "As I was saying, in the morning we'll go to Jim's apartment first." said Kate looking at every man that stood before her. Their obedience was a surprise, she didn't expect any of them to take orders from her but so far they had.

"After Jim's we'll pay a visit to a former cop. His name is Miles and he lives a couple blocks from Jim's. He owns a strip club in that neighborhood."

"Why former?" another mercenary asked, Kate looked at him and realized how young he looked compared to the others.

"He was a decorated detective, but he was one of Carmine Falcone's paid cops. There's no such thing as a retired cop, from what I know, he keeps his ears to the underground." Kate explained and pulled out the list of others.

"Everyone on this list has been on the force as long as Jim some even longer. My guess is that these are the most likely to team up and hide Jim." Said Kate as she laid the paper on the table, the younger mercenary grabbed it and looked it then passed it onto Barsad.

After everyone was clear on the agenda for tomorrow, Kate went back to her room inspecting the gear that Bane approved for her. Everything was tactical gear, everything was Russian and American. The MRE'S had some good stuff. She had used these before so the roast beef was actually a gold mine considering the meals she had in her Closet were just handmade sandwiches with shitty cheese and fruit. The apartment was a three bedroom and one bathroom, it had already been ransacked. Even the furniture had been taken except for the kitchen table. The power was working pretty well she was more excited about the running water. It had been a week since she had a shower. She looked through the small room and found a couple of clean towels on the top shelf in the closet, from what she could see this was once a guy's room. There were a few posters still on the wall that hadn't been torn off of swimsuit models and weights in the corner, probably a couple college guys rooming together from the books and the protein shakes in the fridge. Smiling to herself at the thought she dug through the tan duffle bag and found olive bland cargo pants and a black t-shirt that had green boot socks rolled up in them. She was annoyed that Barsad had packed this bag. She didn't want to think of where he dug up the panties and bras. As she emptied out everything on the mattress she was surprised to find shampoo and hair conditioner.

She rolled up the clothes in the towel and looked out the door down the hall toward the bathroom; she wanted make it quick and quiet. She didn't want any of them to see her. The coast was clear, as quietly as she could she bolted to the door. Just she opened the door she saw Barsad standing in the bathroom, hair wet and shirtless.

"Jesus woman, you couldn't knock." He said as he grabbed a shirt on the sink and put it on. Kate turned sideways and stared at the wall. "It's a bit late for that." Said Barsad as he grabbed a few things from the sink and tossed them into a similar looking duffle bag on the floor.

"I didn't think any of you bathed." Kate muttered giving Barsad a side glance. He was smiling as usual, "Of course, hygiene is important." Said Barsad threw the duffle bag over his shoulder. "Or did you just want to catch me off guard." He teased with a wide grin. Kate glared at him as he walked past her and closed the door behind him. Kate waited a moment, "Why are you still out there?" she asked when she heard the bag hit the floor with a thud.

"The door doesn't lock. I'll make sure no one goes in." he said from the other side of the door. Kate sighed, she wanted him to leave but then again she didn't want any of others to walk in while she showered. Her thoughts and fear must have been screaming out loud, "I promise I'll stay out here." He said. Kate waited again before she undressed and turned on the shower. The second she stepped in she felt relief as the hot water poured down her head and down her back. She closed her eyes and put her hands on the wall and stood there enjoying a true moment of bliss. The pores on her body opened up to the heat. She ran her hands through her tangled hair; she looked at the drain and saw how brown the water had turned. She smiled and grabbed her shampoo and began rubbing her scalp, she sighed and rinsed. She felt relaxed.

It felt like she had been in the shower forever when she finally stepped out. She didn't want to get out of the shower, she felt so much better. For a while she felt as if she were back in her own apartment. She wiped herself down and dried her hair; she realized that her hair had grown a few inches it ran down her back. Standing naked before the mirror she remembered where she was and why. It was a dreadful thought, and then she remembered that Barsad was outside the door. She dressed quickly and was surprised that everything was a perfect fit. She grabbed her towel and opened the door to find Barsad sitting in the hall smoking a cigarette. She looked up and down the hall and everything was quiet.

"Take it that everything went well?" he asked looking up at her. Kate closed the door behind her and walked past Barsad without a word and darted into her room. She braided her hair, kicked off her boots and unrolled the sleeping bag on the mattress. It was strange at how quiet it was outside. She looked out the window and the city was in total darkness. A few lights from the street could be seen here and there but everything was still. It was an odd feeling.

Barsad

(X Ambassador: Shining)

He was never one to sleep in; 4am was normal and early enough for him. He was the first one up, and then one by one they all rose from sleep until Kate was the only one. He knocked first, no answer then he knocked a second time still no answer. He opened the door expecting her to be gone but there she was. She was strapping the glock17 to her belt; she turned and looked up at him. Barsad saw that she examined everything that he had given her. The day before he showed her the arsenal to let her take her pick at she wanted to use. He grabbed the tan vest from the floor and followed Kate as she looked around; he wasn't surprise when she grabbed two Glock 17's with the holsters. As she looked at ankle straps he gathered a few extra clips, three grenades then snatched two smoke grenades and debated on the magazine clips when he saw Kate inspecting an AK47. He decided that the he should maybe give her back the Beretta that he confiscated from her home. The tactical vest had a dozen pockets. When he saw her pick up a Smith and Wesson boot knife for a close up inspection he also threw in a leather belt holster for it as well. Which he saw the handle sticking out from the outer side of her right boot.

"We head out in five." Said Barsad in such a gentle voice that it was almost a whisper. Kate nodded in response. For once he felt that he was invading her space so he stepped out of the room. He walked back into the living room where four of his comrades were inspecting, and reloading their weapons. He wasn't paying much attention until he smelled the coffee burning. He turned and saw that Olavi was serving the coffee. Barsad always enjoy the big man's company. Olavi was a 6'7 bald headed man with a strong jaw, Barsad remembered finding the man working as body guard for some small time gun runner they met in France. When Bane had offered him a place among them as brothers, he willing accepted. His presence was enough to intimidate smaller men; he was great with a KA-BAR knife. Barsad had seen what he could do with it, he rarely used guns. Like Barsad himself, Olavi's loyalty was never questioned. He had proven that a few times. Barsad was indebted to him, when on a job in the Middle East a grenade landed right beside him; Olavi appeared out of nowhere and shielded Barsad from the worst of it. Now he bore the scars on his back and trailed but to the back and side of his left face.

"Are you sure we can trust her?" Olavi asked in his thick European accent as he saw Kate leave her room, Barsad followed his gaze. "Unlike the rest of us, she feels too much and is a slave to it. She won't try anything." He replied. Olavi nodded and took a sip of coffee. They stood there for a while and watched the younger member Micah wiping down his Beretta with the same red rag. Was the youngest to join the brotherhood, only a child of twelve when they found him one night in their food storage hidden the back streets of Morocco. For weeks they noticed that their food supply was less and less every day. So one night Barsad and two other smaller members hid themselves in the storage locker disguised as barrels of wheat and a bag of beans, they waited patiently until in the middle of the night when they heard at the bottom corner of the shed, no one moved they just waited. Then the figured appeared and carried a small stick, he looked around then found what he was looking for, a big gunny sack of beans. He stuck the bag with stick that turned out to be a straw and filled up the sleeves of his shirt. Outside they heard a few other voices; the timber in the voices was that of children. When he had seen enough Barsad slowly stood up and silently stepped out from behind the barrels. The others quietly crawled out from the barrel of wheat and he sack of beans. Micah didn't hear them; he was still too busy trying to fill his pants. When captured him and took to Bane they were surprised that Bane had decided to keep the boy, his talents as a thief proved its worth. Now here he was at seventeen and still no fuzz on his face.

"Is there a chance that we did miss something at the Commissioners place?" he asked as he tucked the Beretta into the holster at his hip. Barsad had his doubts but as Kate had said, no of them knew him as she does. He didn't have to answer that question, everyone there seemed to think the same thing.

She made her way into the living room. Barsad gave her a double glance then smiled, "Well, you look like one of us now." He said with a chuckle, the others laughed. Kate ignored them and walked to the front door without a word. Barsad and the others continue to laugh to themselves then went out after Kate. They had all agreed that they would go about their business on foot; taking transportation would draw unwanted attention. They started about 5am, the City was still pretty dark this hour, There was no sign of movement, not a soul In sight. They walked side by side as a big group, looking down the streets, alleys, especially around building with lots of windows. Barsad had to fill in Kate on the happenings since the City went Marshall Law. Evening curfew started at 6pm, there was to be no one out in the streets after dark. In the morning everyone was free to leave their homes at 7am. The City gave in at first but in the last few days they had been a few riots break out, Bane's men were targets as well as the few collaborators.

Barsad stayed close to Kate, she hadn't said a word all morning. He knew that she was still pretty pissed about how things went down. If she accepted the task when Bane first offered things would have been different, she wouldn't have the five lives depending on her but she didn't. They had gone three blocks north from where they had stayed, Kate stopped and waited for the others that had fallen behind. "We turn here, the building is at the block on the left side of the street." She said when they all gathered. "Of course he won't go back there but there should be a few things that might be valuable info." She explained. No one said a word they just nodded and looked up the road.

Kate

They stood out the building door for a few minutes, before they went in. The power on this side of town was down so they took the stairs. Kate was thankful that Jim lived on the fifth floor in a two bedroom apartment. After Barbara had left and took the kids. Jim didn't need anything too big or pricey; He sent money for the kids and whatever Barbara needed. Kate had stayed in contact with them. When Jim was in the hospital Barb had called every few hours to know his condition. She didn't want to come and see him, for Kate and Barb both knew that she did, she'd never have the strength to leave. Kate had seen the toll that it had taken on them, Barb wanted Jim to quit and find a different job but Jim couldn't do that. They all knew that he had good intentions and that his work with the Batman was all for the greater good. So one day Barb just packed up and left without a word. Jim understood why, When Kate had asked him why he didn't go after them, he explained that his path was too much for her and she deserved happiness and not waiting up every night worrying and stressing herself out over him.

Kate stood outside the door, Barsad at her side. They slowly entered the small apartment one at a time; Kate went to the window and tore off the curtains to let in some light. She looked around and saw everything was tossed around. His coffee table over turned, she went down and turned it back over. She moved the papers around and tossed the cushions out of the way. She noticed they too had been pulled from the couch with slashes through them, then books from the bookshelf were torn apart the shelves were ripped out as well.

Barsad looked at her then to the other guys they shook their heads. "Someone else was here, they must have been looking for something or they were scavengers." Said Barsad as he looked around the room. Kate doubted that, "So when you guys went through here it wasn't this fucked?" she asked. Olavi stepped forward, "When we did we made sure we didn't make mess. In case he came back." He said and turned to look at the door. "We closed the door when we left." Kate sighed. The door was opened. She put her finger to her lip for them all to be quiet. Then motioned for Olavi and Micah to the front door, they nodded and went to the door, she motioned them to close it. Olavi slammed the door. Kate nodded then Motioned for Barsad and the rest to come over to her side of the living room against the wall. Within seconds they heard movement in the back room.

"Let's go man, I don't like this." Whispered one voice

"Wait a sec then we'll head up to the next floor." Said the other.

From what Kate could hear, they sounded like kids. She held her gun out and motioned them all to put them down. They all stared at her in confusion. Barsad made a hand signal and they all lowered their guns. "They're kids." Kate whispered to Barsad, he nodded. They heard footsteps coming down the hall.

"You see anything?" asked one, there was silence.

"Nah. They gone." Replied the other, Kate heard them slowly coming down the hall. Barsad waited until both kids were in plain sight when jumped up and snatched the one smallest by the waist and left him off the floor. Kate shook her head. They were street kids, one black and the other Mexican.

"Hey man lemme go!" the smallest shouted. Barsad held him tight around the shoulders. Kate and the others stood up.

"Whoa, fool let him go!" shouted the tall Mexican kid. Kate went and stood in between him and the Barsad.

"What are your names?" asked Kate, The tall one looked and shook his head, "Miguel, this lil fool is EJ." He said running his hand over his bald head. "Come on man why you give em' our real names? Stupid!" whined EJ. Barsad squeezed him, "Now, now stop kicking and I'll put you down," he said to EJ, Miguel bite his lip and looked at EJ, "Don't be stupid fool, you see them guns." Said Miguel, EJ stopped and Barsad slowly let his feet touch the floor. Kate looked at Barsad then over the others.

"What were you guys doing up here?" Kate asked Miguel, he looked at EJ, "We were at the building up the street when the curfew hit, figured we couldn't make it back in time to the shelter. With these big dudes out, we didn't wanna get blasted." He said looking cautiously at the mercenaries. Miguel stepped forward, "We just came up into this one and figured everyone else would be down on the first and second, so we crashed here. Woke up when we heard y'all movin shit around." He explained. Kate looked around then found a family picture on the floor.

"You kids see this man around the neighborhood?" she asked pointing at Jim Gordon in the photo.

"We don't talk to cops or none of y'all." Snapped EJ Kate raised her eye brow, Barsad smacked him in the back of the head. Kate glared at him, "Yo man if I was bigger I'd put you down. I promise that." Said EJ rubbing his head, Miguel shook his head again, "Yo man shut up!" he said looking at Barsad's sniper rifle in his hand. "Look lady we don't want no trouble." He said folding his hands; Kate could see the fear in his eyes. She had met kids like them be. They grew up on the streets.

"Look at the picture." She said in a stern voice to let the boys know she meant business. Miguel looked at the photo, and then passed it to EJ, "Nah, look like every other white dude in the street." Said Miguel looking Kate in the eye then handed back the photo to her.

"Alright, Get out of here, go home and stay off the streets." She said, "Tse, don't gotta tell me twice." Said Miguel, "Told ya this was a stupid idea." Mumbled EJ, "Man shut up." Snapped Miguel as they walk out of the house, they heard the boys break in a run down the hall.

"Stupid kids." Said one of the other mercenaries, "Those kids scare you Riley?" asked Barsad, Kate looked at Riley she hadn't heard say a single word until now and was surprise that he sounded American, she took him for a south African ex-military but she was wrong. He was a big man with big muscles in the arms. "No, we could've shot those kids." He said and turned to look out the window. Kate thought about it for a moment, things could've gone very wrong. She sighed loaded and walked to back room. The mattress was flipped from the bed frame; drawers were on the floor and the dresser broken up. The closet was emptied out. She saw the boys had made their bed; she looked around and found nothing. She went back to the living room.

"We're looking for a small black address book. It has all the information of both retired and current police officers that he's still in close contact with." she ordered. Micah shook his head, "What if it isn't here?" he asked, Kate glared at him. "Before my last visit to him in the hospital I came here to clean up a bit. It was sitting on that counter." She said and pointed to the counter, everything had been thrown to the floor. They spent an hour there looking through everything but turned up empty handed.

Blake

Blake had returned to the Boy's Home with a few boxes of canned food. He visited every few days to check on everyone. So far they hadn't been bothered. Others came and went too with supplies. Jim had come with him the day before; Blake explained to him that he had grown up there. Jim didn't question him about and Blake was thankful for that. He was on his way out when two of the boys came running at him around the corner.

"JOHN! JOHN!" they shouted as they saw him. Blake exhaled with relief, when he first went in they explained that two of the boys had disappeared. Miguel and EJ were close friends and also the trouble makers in the home.

"Where have you two been?! Everyone was worried sick about you guys!" Said Blake raising his voice as the boys stopped in front of him catching their breath. "John there was some guys lookin for that Commissioner guy." Miguel said when finally caught his breath. Blake stopped and looked at him, "Who?" he asked

EJ sighed then turned to Blake. "We took that guys wallet the other day." He said and handed Blake the wallet, Blake looked inside, sure enough it was Jim Gordon's. "So you decided to go to his house?" he asked, "We stayed there when curfew hit, this morning those military guys and a pretty lady showed up lookin for him." Said Miguel. Blake wanted to hit the both of them. "Did they hurt you guys?" he asked, "Nah man just asked if we'd seen him." Replied Miguel. Blake shook his head, "You guys say anything?" he asked, "Nah, we got your back." Said EJ. Blake hugged the both of them. "Get inside and don't leave the shelter again. Promise me." He said holding both of the boys on the shoulder. Miguel and EJ looked at Blake then nodded, "I said promise me." He repeated. "We promise." The boys said at the same time.

Blake watched the boys go inside then waited a while in case they decided to come back out but they remained inside. He was glad that the boys came back but also still annoyed that they stole Jim's wallet and decide to sack his place. The pretty lady he thought could be the same that Jim was so worried about. He walked back to the bar a couple blocks up from the shelter, the owner was a retired a cop and opened up the bar for cops. Blake had been there a few times with his partner and a few other guys from the other prescient's. Jim was there now with a couple of other guys, they never stayed on one place for too long. The word was out that Bane was looking for him and anyone that he was close with.

When he got the building he double checked to make sure that he wasn't followed before he went down the alley to take the side door. The door was locked so he knocked twice, phased then knocked three. The door slowly opened.

"No one follow you?" asked the elderly man with a loaded shot gun looking into the street behind Blake. "No one." Said Blake, the old man was named Joe Izzo, he was once a homicide detective back in the day. Jim explained that he was once a boxer before he decided to become a cop. Blake believed that much considering the man's size, he was at least 6'4 had fist the size of a ham with big broad shoulders. He could imagine what the old man looked like in his prime but now at sixty five he was worn down.

"Jim. The kids back." Announced Joe slowly walking ahead of Blake into the large backroom that was storage of his alcohol. Jim was looking at a map on the table when Blake walked in. He was by himself, the others had left of the day. "So far we know that there's two trucks that seem to be following the same route." Said Jim still focused on the map.

"Commissioner we have a problem." Said Blake.