If you think a cat bunny hopping down stairs is strange...you are not alone. The real Nitro had many odd quirks which included stalking, attacking, wresting, and ultimately getting tangled up in any towel hanging up in the bathroom.
Several hours later Richard exits the Wayne Tech jet in Jump City where he is met by police Srgt Maddox.
"Mr. Grayson, I'm glad you could make it on such short notice."
"I just hope that I can be of help."
Srgt Maddox looks up as the cat bunny hops down the stairs of the jet a bit dazed. "If I hadn't seen the cat after animal control alerted us to possible foul play at Miss Roth's apartment I could never believe that is him. He just showed up on your door in Bludhaven?"
"My penthouse balcony actually."
"How do you think he found you?"
"Your guess is as good as mine on that one. As I said on the phone I haven't seen Rachel for years. Do you mind if I ask what she has been up to?"
"Miss Roth was a favorite with the children at the library while she worked her way through nursing school. After that she spent much of her time as a nurse and all her patients adored her. In her spare time she was active in many local charities. She taught mediation classes as well, they were quite popular with those in very stressful jobs."
The library is the only news that doesn't surprise Richard. That sounds just like the Raven that he knew but the rest is something he never would have guessed she would be doing at some point in her life. She could barely tolerate the rest of the team other people were just out of the question. But in another way it doesn't surprise him at all. She had joined the Titans to do all the good she could before the prophecy of her birth came true. Even though that prophecy was averted she is still doing all the good she can since the Titan's disbanded. "That doesn't sound like she was doing anything that would make her a target for abduction."
"Not since she has been here. Its her past that we have questions about...which is why I called you. I do have a car waiting to take you to a hotel. I thought we might discuss anyone you may know from her past that might be out to get her along the way."
Richard looks down at the cat who follows him as he walks to the waiting car. They clearly have no idea that Rachel is really the former Titan, Raven.
Srgt Maddox looks down at the cat who hops into the car as soon as the door is opened. "If only we had some way to talk to animals. He must have seen whoever kidnapped Miss Roth."
"I'm afraid I don't know as much about her past as you might think. We knew each other as teenagers. She was very secretive."
"Its her family history that we are currently exploring. A co-worker and close friend of Ms. Roth's at the hospital lead us to believe that her father might be an angle to pursue. The friend indicated that her mother ran away when she found out she was pregnant. Her mother is Angela Roth who did run away from home when she was a teenager."
"And by her father are you referring to the cult that Rachel's mother joined?"
"You seem to know more than you let on."
"Rachel told me about it once. I can see why you would suspect them knowing that. Was there any clue in the apartment that would lead you to believe the cult was behind it?"
"Miss Roth does have quite the collection of books related to the occult."
"Taking over the place by now, I would imagine. That was always an interest of hers. You mentioned that she was active in charities."
"Yes, especially those that gave a helping hand to the less fortunate."
Richard notices the cat perk up at the mention of that. "Did she perhaps upset someone?"
"You mean land developers that would put shopping malls where the homeless live? What big names hasn't she stood in the way of over the last few months. We have been exploring that angle from the beginning. It was my first instinct. I was hoping there was something she might have said to you. You must know something or I doubt the cat would have trekked half-way across the country to find you."
"I have a contact that might be able to help explore the development issue. I am afraid he only works alone and in secret."
"Right now we will take all the help we can get. I'm sure I don't have to tell you that the longer we wait the less chance there is of finding Miss Roth alive."
"I'll put in a call as soon as we reach the hotel."
Nitro looks up at Richard and meows a bit warily he doesn't fully understand the concept of heroes and their secret idenities.