Chapter 4
~~ARROW~~
At the Police Station, Detective Lance was talking with Detective Lucas Hilton regarding the Unidac killings. "I don't know, it seems like a bit of a reach," Detective Hilton said doubtfully after listening to Lance.
"Yeah, which is what you do when you got nothin'," Lance replied. "'Cause all I know is the copycat, he torched every record down at Unidac. And all we got are phone records and they show that this Markov guy, he made a couple of calls to an unclaimed line at Merlyn Global."
Hilton frowned. "Markov, one of the victims made a couple of calls? Did I say reach? I misspoke. I meant leap."
Detective Lance sighed. "Just get someone down here from Merlyn Global to answer a few questions under oath."
~~ARROW~~
Thea entered Roy's ragtag Glades home, finding him sitting in a ratty armchair, a tablet open to a web profile on the vigilante.
"Did you find anything?" she asked.
"Lots," he replied, putting the tablet to sleep.
"Anything helpful?
"No, still looking. What about you? You learn anything from the cops?"
Thea smiled teasingly. "As a matter of fact …"
"I like the sound of that," Roy said standing up and moving closer to her.
"You know that copycat archer? Turns out he's connected to Merlyn Global somehow. Or, at least his victims are," Thea explained smugly.
"We're looking for the Hood, not some crazy wannabe," Roy dismissed her findings.
"Well, the guy with the black arrows seems to hate the guy with the green arrows, so…"
Roy frowned incredulously. "So what, we just show up at Merlyn Global and hope the Hood shows up, too?"
"Last I checked, you don't have any better ideas," Thea smirked.
~~Arrow~~
At the Police Station, Felicity was marched past Detective Lance sitting with Tommy in the detective's bullpen, a crowded room full of desks, old computers and even older telephones. With her own arrest occupying her thoughts, it still crossed her mind that the police really should have better technology to fight the bad guys. When it came to technology, they were hopelessly outmatched.
"Well, we discovered a few phone calls between one of the Unidac victims and someone at the Merlyn Global group," Lance said to Tommy, his keen gaze searching the expression of his daughter's most recent ex-boyfriend, looking for any flicker of awareness. "Which is why I asked for someone at your company to help me with my investigation." Lance kicked back in his chair, looking disgusted. "But naturally, they send down the one guy that's been working there 30 seconds and knows nothing."
Tommy kept his habitual coolness under the scrutiny after a lifetime of attention due to his father's wealth and fame. "Detective Lance, if someone from Merlyn Global is involved with those deaths, I want them found as much as you do. Give me more to go on than some phone calls and I will help you in any way that I can," he offered in an level respectful tone, even as he stonewalled Laurel's dad.
"Thank you," Lance replied facetiously.
A high pitched voice asking for a phone call drew Tommy's attention. He looked up to see Oliver's blonde friend newly upgraded to girlfriend if you could believe what was in the press, Felicity, facing off with a uniformed officer.
"I want my call. I get a call. I know my rights. This is all a big mistake, you'll see."
"You'll get your call later," the officer insisted in a long suffering tone.
"But this is all a mistake, and if you let me make a call I can clear it all up."
"That's what they all say, sweetheart."
Felicity's voice faded as the officer herded her farther into the station, but Tommy didn't need to hear more. He smiled at the detective and walked towards the exit, his phone already to his ear.
"Oliver, listen, your friend, Felicity, she's been arrested. I don't know why or what for, but I thought you should know, since she knows what I know about you," Tommy said quick and low, keeping his words private. "Central Precinct." He looked up just in time to not plow into Laurel who had just pulled open the door to the detective's bullpen.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, her expression mostly neutral, but the way her eyes had narrowed at seeing him showed that she was still hurt and confused.
"Helping your father with an investigation," Tommy explained. "I assume you are here because Oliver called. Gotta love his brass. Calling his ex-girlfriend to bail out his current one."
Laurel frowned, looking around the station for a clue to Tommy's meaning, but not finding anything but her father approaching quickly. "I don't know what you're talking about. I'm here to have lunch with my dad. Is Felicity here?"
Tommy looked behind him and saw Detective Lance. "Uh, call me if you get anything more substantial on the connection between the victim and my dad's company."
"Thank you," Detective Lance said then turned to Laurel. "One second, sweetie."
Tommy exited, Laurel swiveling to watch him leave as Lance flagged down a tech guy in the hallway.
"Ok, someone at Merlyn Global could be connected to the copycat archer, all right? Any chance you can have a little snoop around their computer systems?"
"You'll need a warrant," the tech guy said regretfully.
"No, we'll need a judge who owes me a favor," Lance corrected.
Returning to find Laurel looking thoughtful as she stood by his worn, but sturdy desk, Lance smiled.
"Hey…" she said.
"You never did tell me what had you and Merlyn on the outs," Lance stated by way of asking a question.
"No, I didn't," she said shortly.
"You don't have to tell me," he said, fully expecting her to keep her own counsel. Laurel had never been one to talk to him about her relationships.
"Oliver."
Lance grimaced, looking as if he was in pain. "Come on," he scoffed.
"I know. I mean, Oliver, he cheated on me, he broke my heart, he led Sara to her death and you would probably rather drink acid than see me with him again. But don't worry, he turned me down," she said, her hurt clear in her voice.
"I can't say I'm not glad. If you won't stay away from him, at least he has the sense to stay away from you."
"Did you just compliment him?" Laurel asked with a faint smile. There had never been any love lost between her father and Oliver. Even before Sara's death.
Lance exhaled loudly. "Not exactly, but since Queen's been back, he's different." He paused shooting her a challenging look. "I'll deny ever having said that."
"Hmm," she said but she was distracted, her gaze searching the room.
"Let's eat."
"Actually… Speaking of Oliver…" she said causing her dad to groan. "Tommy said something about Felicity being here?"
"Felicity? Who's Felicity?"
"Oliver's girlfriend. Tommy seemed to think she'd been arrested, but that can't be right. Felicity is… not the type to be arrested."
"She'd dating Queen, so I'd say her judgment is questionable at best." Laurel shot her father a dry look that forced him to look down shamefaced.
"Don't worry, Dad. I'll let you make that up to me by checking to see if she's here. Felicity Smoak. She's a pretty blonde."
"Of course, she is," Lance said darkly, indicating Laurel should follow him to booking.
~~Arrow~~
Waiting at booking, Laurel shot Oliver a text. "At Police Station. Felicity arrested. Booking now."
Oliver called her back immediately, asking her to do what she could, and informing her that he was already on his way.
Laurel was waiting as Felicity came out of the booking room. "You can make your call now Ms. Smoak," the officer escorting her offered.
"I don't need to make a call, I'm innocent, and if you'll-"
"You've been asking for your call. Now is the time."
"I know, but what I really need is a computer. If I can just-"
"Do you want your call or not?"
"No, I told you-" Felicity said, her voice rising in panic.
"I suppose not, since your boyfriend is here," Detective Lance said, causing the younger uniformed officer to snap to attention.
Felicity spun and saw Tommy, the hopeful relieved expression on her face falling to confusion. "I'm not dating Tommy."
"I think he meant the guy behind me," Tommy said with a faint smile, eyes crinkling around the edges.
"Felicity!" Oliver said loudly, coming into the small room
"Oliver, oh, thank God!
Felicity moved towards him but was stopped short by the officer taking her elbow and keeping her in place.
"I hardly think the handcuffs are necessary," Oliver said severely.
"I'd have handcuffed her mouth, but that isn't possible yet, so…"
Lance glared at the uniformed officer causing him to look down, but in that moment he learned why the officer had said it as Felicity let loose a long winding explanation of events until Laurel cut her off.
"Felicity," Laurel said loudly. "Do not say anything."
"But…"
"Nothing," Laurel insisted, and Oliver nodded, his gaze sharp and locked on the blonde who had replaced Laurel in Oliver's affections.
~~ARROW~~
Leaving the station, Felicity was quiet, and Oliver was wondering if she had taken Laurel's demand that she remain silent a little too seriously. He had expected her to burst into speech, or tears, as soon as they climbed into the town car with Diggle behind the wheel, but she just stared out the window.
Oliver and Diggle shared a worried look in the rearview mirror. "Felicity… gun charges?"
"Look, it's nothing, completely bogus. So just don't worry about it," she said sharply. "Not that I'm not grateful for you posting my bail and getting me out of there so fast… how did you do that by the way? I mean I know Laurel's dad is a detective, but why would she… or he for that matter use any of their pull to help me? Or you. Not that… I mean maybe Laurel would help you, but I barely know her and Detective Lance hates-"
"Felicity," Oliver interrupted. "We are all aware of my difficult relations with the Lances. What I am unaware of, is how you were arrested."
"They came into my office and told me to stand up. Said that I was being arrested," her big blue eyes looking at him innocently even as she gave him a bullshit, sarcastic answer.
"That's not what I meant and you know it," Oliver said with building frustration.
"Well with your wild past, I'm sure you know how the booking goes down at the station. We should get a copy of my mug shot. I can use it for my ten year reunion where are they now board," Felicity sniped.
Oliver took a deep breath and released it. "You are obviously still upset, and I can understand that, so I'm going to give you until we get to the Foundry to get yourself together."
She glared at him, but went back to being silent.
Downstairs in the Foundry, Felicity moved directly to her computers but when she saw Diggle and Oliver right behind her, she abruptly changed directions going to the medical supply cart and pulling out a bottle of rubbing alcohol and a few gauze pads.
"Are you hurt?" Diggle asked worriedly.
"No. I tried to wash off the finger print ink at the station, but it's still there," she said as she furiously began rubbing the saturated cotton over her smudged finger tips.
"Why were you arrested?" Oliver demanded in a loud voice that echoed in the concrete cavern of his lair.
"Gun charges, among other, lesser offenses."
"You don't own a gun. Won't even touch one," he said darkly, getting tired of her avoidance quickly.
"No," she agreed, preoccupied with her hands. Lifting one she sniffed it delicately. "Great now I look like I've been finger painting and smell like floral and alcohol grossness."
"Stolen property?" Diggle interjected, hoping to diffuse the tension and war of obstinance that was building between the billionaire vigilante who was used to steam rolling his way to information, and the little blonde programmer that had a surprisingly strong backbone, and who had rarely, if ever shown any fear of Oliver. "Did you get a stolen gun, somehow?"
"If you needed a gun…" Oliver started again.
"I don't have a gun. I have never had or needed a gun," Felicity insisted impatiently. "And I don't need you to help me with this. I have it covered."
Oliver stepped into her personal space, towering over her as he glowered at her. "You were arrested, you currently have a court date, I don't think you have it covered."
"Back off Oliver, I don't need you to-"
"I don't care what you think you need. I'm here, and I'm going to help you resolve this whether you want my help or not," Oliver growled, grabbing her elbow when she tried to step back from him.
"Hey," Diggle said, getting closer and dropping a heavy hand on Oliver's shoulder. "We just want to help, Felicity," he said in a reasonable tone.
"Thank you, John. But as I've said repeatedly now, I don't need your help. What I do need is a shower and to make sure my parents have not heard about this," Felicity said, her tone tight, but much more calm. She reached down to try to pry Oliver's fingers off her elbow but he didn't budge. "Let me go."
"Not until you talk to me. I want to know what happened today."
Felicity stopped trying to loosen his fingers looking up to meet his eyes unflinchingly. "We have bigger problems, I heard one of the detectives talking while I was there. They're onto the connection between Unidec and Merlyn Global, Lance is-"
"You were arrested, we don't need that kind of attention," Oliver said, cutting her off.
"Wow, is that what you're concerned about?" she said, jerking back from him.
Oliver released his hold on her, turning away, his hands in tightly coiled fists. "Felicity, you know…"
"I know," she said softly, her anger fading. "But trust me, I have my situation handled. Or I will very shortly. Let's focus on your situation. Your mom, Walter, Malcolm Merlyn, the Undertaking. We still don't know… well, anything. And while my problem will be short lived, we have no idea when or what the Undertaking is, but it sure seems like something is going to happen soon."
Oliver turned back to stare at her, trying to read something, anything in her eyes, but she didn't look worried. Rolling his shoulders to release some of the tension that had gripped him ever since he had heard about her arrest, he turned to Diggle, nodding his head lightly.
Diggle narrowed his eyes, knowing Oliver well enough to know that he wouldn't let Felicity get away with shutting him out, no matter how tightly he held his own secrets. "I've been watching your mother for days now, Oliver, and nothing. She goes to work, she comes home. Occasionally she goes out for dinner. She seems to particularly like the salmon tartar at Table Salt."
Felicity nodded and sat at her computers, pulling up logs of calls, emails and appointments for Moira Queen. "I'm linked into her home and office phone. Nothing out of the ordinary. No mention of Walter's abduction or the Undertaking. Just a few innocuous calls to Malcolm Merlyn."
Oliver sat back on a stainless steel table that was common in industrial kitchens and battlefield medical tents. "Why wouldn't she call him? They're old friends," he said easily, but his tone grew darker. "We're all old friends."
"Are you OK?" Felicity asked softly walking towards Oliver.
"My mom and my best friend's dad are involved in a conspiracy that may have dire consequences for the city. And I'm pretty sure they murdered my father. I'm not planning on using the word "ok" again anytime soon," Oliver said.
"Listen, all we know for sure is that Malcolm and your mother are planning something for the glades," Diggle said.
"And that Walter and I were getting too close to it, that's why they had him kidnapped," Felicity continued.
"We have to find out what this Undertaking is," Diggle stated the obvious.
"I have to ask her," Oliver said determinedly.
"Well, no," Felicity said with a sharp shake of her head.
"We're out of time, she knows, and we need to know."
Felicity stood up in alarm. "But, the last time the Vigilante paid your mom a visit, you got shot, and I got to play doctor with you." She paused, her face scrunching up with frustration even as a small smile lit Oliver's face and Diggle chuckled. "Ahh! My brain thinks of the worst way to say things."
Oliver closed the space between them, putting a firm hand on her shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly. "This time it'll just be me asking. Friendly mother-son chat."
Felicity didn't look convinced, but knew she wouldn't be able to persuade Oliver that there was another way this time. Mostly because there wasn't another way. They were out of options.
~~ARROW~~
Felicity worked on her phone and computers as Oliver and Diggle worked out the when and where of the plan. When Felicity's phone beeped she launched out of her chair and was walking towards the steps before she registered that both men had stopped talking and were watching her with eagle eyes.
"I… need to run an errand." She nodded, her blonde ponytail bobbing up and down as she seemed happy with her excuse. "I'll be back later, I'll be on coms while you… talk to your mom."
Oliver nodded and Diggle called upstairs to one of his security staff to let them know that she was coming up and would require a ride.
"I can take a taxi," she protested.
"You've had a rough day. A topic we will get back to," Oliver said shortly walking towards her, his tone resolute.
Felicity forced an awkward smile, and practically raced up the steps after trying to ease around Oliver's large mass without touching him, since he had placed himself between her and the stairs.
Oliver waited until the door closed behind her. "Something is going on with her."
"Yeah, I know," Diggle agreed. "I have one of my guys following her."
Oliver turned towards Diggle. "Is he good?"
"Well, I don't know what he's up against, but it's Felicty, so yeah, he's good."
Oliver studied Diggle for a moment, his eyes narrowing. "What do you know?"
"Not much."
"But more than me."
Diggle nodded. "She's been stressed recently."
"The fake dating, yeah, I know," Oliver said guiltily.
"More than that. She didn't say anything to me, but I heard her talking to Carly, something with her bank account login, her mail, even her cable being turned off."
Oliver's face contorted with confusion. "Those are all pranks… but her being arrested…"
"I know. Are we still a go for tonight?" Diggle asked.
"Yeah. Keep your guy on Felicity, we'll tackle my mom, and with whatever we learn from her, we can keep Felicity busy here, where we know she's safe from whatever is happening."
"And while she's searching the web for information on the Undertaking…"
"We take out whoever is bothering her," Oliver said with dark satisfaction.
~~ARROW~~
At Felicity's apartment she was pacing in an agitated manner. Her phone rang and she snached it up off the kitchen table. "Finally."
"Zero Cool, confirm your identity."
"Really?" she said in a chiding tone. "If security was really so important to you, I wouldn't be calling, Noah."
There was the audible sound of someone sighing over the phone. "Zero Cool- we have code names for a reason."
"Yes and that reason is so our real identities stay secret. But your security is clearly not up to snuff since-"
"Look we don't have any proof that Plague is the one responsible for your recent problems," Noah said in exasperation.
"I was arrested today. From my job! My job, Noah! I'm out on bail. Do you think I'm interested in your denials or stupid insistence that no one could beat your security? It was your game. Your contest. Do you think anyone will sign up for your next contest once this gets out there?"
"Are you threatening me?"
"I'm telling you that I'm not going to keep quiet. He's gone too far and the way I handle it will be loud and concise. And when people hear what I did and why, your game won't draw anyone, let alone hackers with any real ability."
"I'm not going to tell you who Plague is," Noah insisted.
"You don't have to. I just hacked your system," Felicity said, setting down her tablet and smirking. "I have every bit of information he gave you, and oops, your system is now crashed. Have fun with that."
"Zero Cool! You can't do that, I know you put in a failsafe. Give it to me," he demanded and Felicity could hear frantic typing over the line.
"No. I spent the afternoon in jail on serious charges because you let that maladjusted miscreant into the contest without verifying who he was or how stable he is. I won, and he couldn't handle it and has been making my life difficult for weeks and you've been ignoring it. If you think I would have mercy on you, after you've been so helpful, you don't know anything about me or hackers in general. Don't play in the big leagues, Noah, if you can't keep up."
~~ARROW~~
At Queen Manor, Oliver found his mother in a feminine sitting room, looking out the window. "Mom," he said, drawing her attention. "Are you OK?"
"Of course, my darling. Just thinking."
"About Walter?"
Moira hesitated, but nodded in confirmation standing up and moving to pour herself a cup of tea from a tray sitting on a nearby butler table. "Among other things. I just don't understand it. Why would he leave?"
"He was kidnapped. Held for six months. If there aren't any problems between the two of you, maybe he just needed time to adjust," Oliver offered, his keen gaze trained on his mother's still beautiful face.
"I thought he was doing well, didn't you?"
"Who took him?" Oliver asked, standing close to Moria.
"Well, we don't know yet. But I'm going to make sure all the resources of Queen Consolidated are behind it," Moira said rotely.
"That's the answer that you gave to reporters when he first came home," Oliver said softly. "Tell me the truth."
Moira frowned, sipping from her tea before answering. "I don't know what you mean."
"I think you do," he insisted. "A couple months ago, when I showed you Dad's notebook, you seemed to know something. Something about our family being in danger."
"Are you suggesting that I knew something about my husband's kidnapping?" Moira asked in shocked outrage, but Oliver could see the flare of real concern in the back of her eyes.
"I'm just suggesting that maybe you were scared. That maybe you didn't mean for any of this to happen. But it was harder than you thought. And now you're barely keeping your head above water," Oliver said intensely, keeping his voice quiet. "Please, Mom. Let me help you before you drown."
"You need to stop asking these things." She took another sip of tea and he saw her hand tremble. "Do you understand? I need you to stop."
"I can't. I need to know," he insisted
She set down her cup, turning back, to try to dissuade Oliver from pursiing this course of questioning any farther when the lights cut off.
"Is that a power outage?" she said distractedly.
"I don't know," he replied, glancing around the now dark room.
Then Moira cried out as Oliver slapped at his neck and fell to the ground in a dead slump, knocking the porcelain tea set off the table. The sound of glass breaking mixed with her cry of worry. "Oliver!"
"Mom," he groaned.
She crouched by him, looking up to call for help. "Help! Raisa! Help…" she felt a sharp stinging pain in her shoulder and turned to see what it was but felt herself growing heavy, her mind turning dark as she slumped over Oliver's unconscious figure. "Oliver."
~~ARROW~~
Felicity took the elevator down to the bottom floor of her apartment, peering outside the glass doors to see that the car and driver that had driven her home were still parked at the curb.
Walking hurriedly to the back exit, she darted into the alley and away from Diggle's employee. Hailing a cab she was on the way.
Entering an internet café in Chinatown, Felicity nodded at the middle aged Chinese lady behind the counter. Walking through the main room full of students from the local high school as well as a few colleges, Felicity went through a beaded curtain to a backroom occupied by five computer counsels and only a few people.
Sitting down at an open computer Felicity opened a web session and started typing in code. Smiling as she got to where she wanted, she plugged in a usb drive and uploaded a virus. Sending it off to do its work, she emailed the Starling City Police from the account of a police tech at Central City, stating that a computer bug had messed up some of their warrants and that Starling Police should call to clear up the matter.
Leaving the internet café, Felicity had that weird feeling of being watched. She stopped at a street vendor booth, looking through the bamboo plants for sale, but really trying to figure out who was watching her.
Not able to figure it out, Felicity decided to just disappear into Chinatown, ditching whoever was following her. Darting into an alley, she went into the first open door she found, entering the back of a restaurant. Coming out on the main street again, she repeated the move three more times, finally exiting onto the riverfront and hailing another cab, her heart racing.
~~ARROW~~
"Mom!"
The sound of Oliver's voice woke Moira to a nightmare. "Oliver?" She looked around groggily, seeing a large dark warehouse except for the too bright glare of a few flood lights that allowed her to see Oliver sitting across from her. She tried to stand up, but her arms were tied to the arms of a metal chair. "Oliver!"
"Are you OK?" Oliver asked.
"Oliver? What… are we… we got to get out of here," she said, her rising panic fighting the effects of the drugs that had knocked her out.
An ominous voice, sounded from behind Oliver. "Moira Queen. You have failed this city."
"Please! Do not hurt my son," Moira begged.
"Tell me what the Undertaking is and I won't have to," Diggle, dressed in the Hood's outfit demanded. Moira looked torn, wanting to protect Oliver, but her fear of Malcolm kept her silent. Diggle hovered over Oliver and seeing the younger man nod, pulled back his right arm and punched him hard in the face.
"No! Please! Leave my son alone!"
"Tell me!" Diggle shouted, his voice distorted hoarsely. "What is Malcolm Merlyn planning?!" When she failed to respond, he hit Oliver again.
"I can't tell you! He'll kill me, he'll kill my family," Moira cried out, tears smearing her mascara.
"You should be more worried about what I'll do," Diggle said hitting Oliver once more, knocking him over to the ground, tied to his chair.
"No!" Moira cried, giving in to her circumstances. "Malcolm is planning to level the Glades! He said so he could rebuild it, but…" her doubts to Malcolm's intentions were clear.
"How?" Diggle asked as Oliver looked at his mother in horror.
"There's a device. He says that it can cause an earthquake," Moira said weakly.
"How is this possible?" Diggle asked, confused.
"I don't know. It was invented by Unidac Industries. Malcolm used my company's Applied Sciences to turn it into a weapon."
Diggle shot Oliver a compassionate look. "Why would you get involved in something like this?"
Moira shook with her fears. "My husband He got involved without my knowing. He was just trying to do some good. He was lost. He His decisions left me vulnerable to Malcolm, and I had no choice. I had to protect my family and my children."
"This device Where is it?"
"I don't know."
"If you don't tell me, I can't stop Merlyn!"
"Oh, you can't stop him," Moria said in resignation. "It's too late."
She shouted in fear as the Hood approached her with a arrow in his hand, fearing the worst. "No, no, no, I told you everything!" Diggle cut her ropes and then disappeared into the darkness. Moira crawled over to where Oliver still lay on his side, the look in his eyes as he looked at her ominous. "Oliver! No! Oh, sweet- Please, I know what you must be thinking, sweetheart, but I never intended any of this to happen," she said as she untied his hands. "You know I would never willingly be a part of anything like this."
Oliver pushed up to his knees, coughing. "I don't know anything anymore."
~~ARROW~~
Entering the lair, Oliver's footsteps drew Felicity's attention. She spun in her chair and shot to her feet, already moving towards Oliver, her expression one of shocked horror and anger as she glanced at Diggle. "Oh, my God. You said you were going to pull your punches!"
"I did," Diggle insisted.
Felicity's hand hovered over Oliver's bruised and battered face. "He had to make it look good, and it had to be real. I'll see her later," Oliver explained.
"Let me get you an icepack for… everything," Felicity said worriedly.
"I'm fine," Oliver insisted. He wanted to move away from her, seeing her desire to hug and coddle him. He didn't need that. Couldn't need or want or accept that. But he also needed her to trust him, feel close to him, part of the team, so that she would share whatever or whoever was responsible for her arrest. So he slid his hand down her arm, pulling her a step closer.
Her eyes shot to his. "I'm fine. I promise. It's cosmetic." He coughed, his hand automatically going to his ribs. "Mostly."
She hesitated, the stepped closer to him, wrapping her thin arms around his back lightly. Oliver stiffened, then curled one arm around her, keeping her close. During their time as a couple, he'd gotten used to touching her, and having her touch him, so the hug wasn't awkward, but the heat the sufficed his body was unwelcome.
Somehow she felt his reaction, and he felt her heart beat kick up an notch. "I'm OK, and we got some of the information we needed. I need you to find the rest." He felt her head move up and down, rubbing her forehead on his shoulder as she nodded before stepping back.
"I need you to dig up everything you can on Unidac Industries," Oliver said in a businesslike tone, ignoring the look Diggle shot him.
"Well, we know Queen Consolidated acquired them seven months ago," Felicity said, sliding into her chair and opening a search. "That's when we met."
"I need information about what I don't know," Oliver said impatiently.
"Unidac is a small research and development technology company that specializes in seismic infringement," Felicity read off the screens.
"Merlyn plans on leveling the Glades with a device that triggers a manmade earthquake," Oliver said flatly.
"You're kidding," Felicity said, her head jerking towards him so she could see his face. He wasn't joking. "OK… More information on the stock auction and, you know, the latest on what the media's calling…
"The Unidac massacre," Oliver completed her sentence.
Diggle chimed in. "There's no way this timing is a coincidence."
"Oliver, there's a website claiming the police suspect a copycat archer," Felicity said.
"So the other archer works for Merlyn?" Diggle said in trepidation.
"He's tying up loose ends," Oliver reasoned out-loud. "Erasing all evidence this device exists so no one can trace the devastation back to him."
Diggle suggested Oliver have a pointed conversation with Malcolm, but Oliver disagreed, saying that the other archer could still set off the device. "We need to find it, then Merlyn can get his," Oliver said.
"Well, maybe there's another way to get Merlyn to tell us," Felicity suggested sliding from one computer to the other her expression serious and intent.
"What do you have in mind?
As I keep proving, people keep secrets. Computers don't," she said simply.
"Felicity, are you hacking into the Merlyn Global mainframe?" Oliver asked incredulously.
"'Hacking' is such an ugly word," she said, not looking at him, her gaze trained on the endless lines of code that were scrolling up her screen. "No." Then she nodded, her head bobbing side to side. "I'm Yeah, totally hacking into the Merlyn Global mainframe."
~~ARROW~~
At the Foundry, Felicity was growing frustrated with Oliver and Diggle asking her if she'd gotten into Merlyn Global's mainframe every five minutes. "Just for the record, I will pump my fist in the air and scream, 'yes!' If I get in."
"You know, you can just say this isn't working," Diggle suggested in a reasonable tone, but Felicity wasn't in the mood to be agreeable.
"This isn't working," she agreed, bursting out of her chair Felicity paced in a circle, coming to rest by Diggle. Oliver couldn't help but notice that she moved away from him.
"All right, there has to be some other way we can find out where he's keeping this device," Diggle said hopefully.
"Unless I can waltz up to Merlyn's mainframe and plug in my tablet directly, there's no way of getting that location," Felicity said in aggravation.
"Then we waltz," Oliver said as if the answer were so simple.
"Excuse me? You need direct access to the mainframe, so we get you direct access to the mainframe, and we figure out where the device is being kept.
Oliver, I did mention that the mainframe is located inside Merlyn Global Group's main headquarters, on the 25th floor? It's only accessible through a restricted access elevator."
Diggle's expression grew more and more grim as Felicity listed the obstacles, but Oliver just looked determined. "I know. We're going to have to break in.
~~ARROW~~
Words 5869
AN-Sorry for the long delay, too many irons in the fire and I kinda lost my muse for this one for awhile. A lot of show dialogue in this chapter, but it was time to contextualize where this story is fitting into cannon, and it helps set the mood. Just recapping scenes looses the feeling of urgency. Hopefully Felicity's drama makes more sense now, it will continue in the next chapter or two. I'm thinking this story will end not long after the Undertaking/Season1 finale.