Chapter Ten:
Malcolm had reluctantly told Thea about some of his involvement in the Queen's Gambit explosion, but Thea had rung Slade and after he finished patrolling he went back to the loft and told her everything he knew about Malcolm's and in turn Moira's involvement. He rang Walter before he arrived though, and just as he was finishing telling Thea, Walter had arrived and held her as she cried. She had not spoken to Malcolm since and the man had made himself scarce to the rest of the team as well. Slade had also told Oliver everything, from his suspicions about the Queen's Gambit to following him once Waller had kidnapped him during his third year away all the way until he had made himself known the previous year. Oliver had listened and they talked but he forgave him and it made Slade feel lighter that there were no secrets left.
Oliver had taken Thea joining the team well. If well was defined as breaking his glaring at Slade record by two hours. He had broken it by grabbing his bow and stalking out of the foundry informing them he would patrol alone tonight as he needed space.
Slade grabbed this opportunity to implement the next part of his plan. It was also brilliant that everyone else was there. He wheeled the whiteboard in front of the desk where everyone was sitting, a part from Roy and Sara who were training. He motioned them over with his hand. With everyone assembled he began writing in capital letters in the middle of the board:
PROJECT: CAPTAIN LANCE
Sara snickered at this.
"Please tell me I did not get a brainstorming session?" Thea asked.
"No, you and Walter were easy. I knew you both would see sense easily. Lance however, I have got no idea, hence," and he pointed to the whiteboard.
They all sat quietly for a while, no one really had an idea. Lance was certain that Oliver was behind the killings, and instead of hating himself for trusting the Arrow he was directing the rage entirely at him.
"We could try something similar to how you approached me." Walter offered. He was sitting next to Thea, the two had been very close since the night when Thea had learnt the truth.
"I'm pretty sure Dad sleeps with a gun, maybe more than one." Sara inputted.
"One person isn't going to be enough to convince him," Felicity added.
Slade's brainstorm soon included helpful information such as;
· Watch out for guns- he sleeps with them,
· Maybe ambush him when he's asleep, do it with more than one person,
· Possible booby traps, hidden cameras,
· Telling him the Arrow is Oliver may make things worse,
· He likes extra strong coffee bribe him with it (Felicity may have the assumption that coffee solves most problems) and
· Kidnap him and keep talking until he listens (Roy's suggestion, though Slade liked it)
When Oliver walked in, they were too busy arguing about whether kidnapping should be an option for Slade to remember he was meant to be keeping this a secret from the kid.
He remembered though when he turned to add something to the board and collided with the kids back as he read the board. Very wisely he back stepped until he was safely behind Felicity. Roy was completely right about having no shame about hiding behind her when Oliver got really angry. The rest of the group was silent apart from Roy's snicker as Slade retreated.
Oliver turned around slowly. "He sleeps with guns?" He asked looking slightly shocked. Slade smiled, knowing he had been forgiven from the small smile on the kids face. They went back to brainstorming, eventually agreeing that due to the possibly of cameras or hidden microphones it would be safer to kidnap him and try and convince Lance that Oliver was innocent in a safe location and to join the team.