Ch. 8

The article describing the discovery of Underboss' sewer lair was mentioned in the front pages of two major newspapers, but there were no accompanying pictures. Rorschach had asked Nightshade about it, and she told him she had run away before they could take photographs. Underboss himself had escaped arrest, and she had wanted a more notable headline. Rorschach respected this decision, and they had immersed themselves in their search for Big Figure. It didn't seem like Big Figure was the type to skulk around in sewers. In fact, from what Rorschach could see so far, Big Figure was quite a notable gangster. He was also harder to find.

It had been nearly two weeks since they had trailed Big Figure. They uncovered two of his underground operations, but no dramatic reveal as there had been with Underboss. Rorschach and Nightshade stayed out longer and longer each night, their work unraveling before them a network of carefully placed contacts, locations, and details. The day before, almost by accident, Rorschach had uncovered a list of places and times. It appeared to be a appointment book entry of some sort, and if someone had been paying attention, this schedule would now be obsolete. However, sometimes things got lost and people grew lazy. Rorschach was counting on the stupidity of others, and he agreed to meet with his partner at the railroad crossing in the city limits. The railroad was still operating, but parts of it was closed down for renovations and were never reopened. The crossing at the edge of the city was no exception... Wait, had he thought of Nightshade as his partner?

Rorschach scratched his head. Well, he supposed it made sense. They had investigated Underboss together. Somehow this case with this Big Figure tied into it and their involvement in both cases flowed smoothly into another without a break. She learned quickly and could hold her own in a fight. She also contributed and kept quiet for the most part. He supposed they were a team now, though he wasn't going to admit to it unless she asked. Hopefully she wouldn't ask. Rorschach felt embarrassed by the idea for some reason. Suddenly impatient, he shifted on his feet, looking for Nightshade. She wasn't late, but he was hopeful that they would leave soon.

As if on cue, Nightshade appeared. She was much more cautious when she moved now, looking around to make sure that nobody was following her. She was better at spotting him. She only looked in two directions before her head moved to where he was standing and she quietly slipped over to him.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, "I would have come sooner but I ran into Ozzy and sidekick again."

Rorschach was mildly annoyed. It seemed that Ozymandias and Nite Owl II had not been bothered with Underboss, but they were obviously on Big Figure's case. Normally he wouldn't feel so competitive, but he believed that Nightshade deserved that picture in the newspaper that she wanted so much, and Ozymandias had already had several headlines. Nite Owl II was even in a recent drug bust article. He himself didn't care what they said about him in the paper, but it was important to her.

"I don't know," Nightshade mused. "Maybe we should try to team up with them. You know, trade inf--"

"No."

Rorschach turned and started making his way into the abandoned train lot. He saw the hint of a smile on Nightshade's lips and felt quite satisfied. The pair wordlessly made their way through the lot, skeletons of ancient railway models stretched out before them. Rorschach had looked at old maps of the area earlier. He knew there was also a partially demolished railway station at the far end of the lot. He led them in the direction of the station, keeping lookout in the meantime. Anybody who came across the place would just assume there was nobody there. The lot was eerily silent -- the drone of the city did not reach the place, and even night creatures did not venture inside. Rorschach could hear the faint ripple of voices, sounds echoing off the hulls of locomotives, giving the eerie impression of ghosts in this haunted place.

The voices grew louder as they approached the building, the faint tones of music the only accompaniment to the call of raucous laughter. Rorschach peered inside, then nodded to Nightshade, who joined him as they looked in the window. Four men sat a table, smoking cigars and playing poker. They were laughing about trivialities when a fifth man entered the room. He was a large man in military fatigues.

"Okay ladies, time to clean up. Big Figure's getting here in ten minutes."

"Holy shit," said one man, who had his feet on the table. "Big Figure -- here?"

"Yeah, lame brain, hurry your ass." Military Man grabbed his chair and whipped him away from the table.

The others scrambled to their feet as they began to clear the table of poker chips, cards, and bills. Two men started carrying suitcases into the other room. Rorschach motioned for Nightshade to stay as he followed them to the back of the house and looked inside the windows as he went. He saw what looked like a small kitchen, then further in, what would have been a waiting area long ago, now filled with piles of more suitcases. Rorschach nodded to himself and returned to Nightshade's side, where they waited in silence for ten minutes, then fifteen. Finally, after half an hour, a large van showed up and stopped just a few feet away from the building's front entrance. The driver emerged, went to the side, and opened the door. Two impossibly huge men lumbered out. They shuffled closely together, causing the dust to rise up around them. Military Man ran out and stood at the top of the steps with his chest held high. The two men stopped at the bottom of the stairs and stepped aside. A man who couldn't have been more then four feet tall stood between them.

"B-Big Figure," said the Military Man. "It's so good of you to join us."

Nightshade turned and gave Rorschach such a comical look of surprise that he almost laughed.

"This better not be a waste of my time," said Big Figure. "I'm tired of running around in circles while the masked freaks chase after us. There have been better days in the city when people didn't go around prostituting themselves to tights in the name of justice."

Rorschach bristled.

The men went inside, and they began to discuss business. Rorschach paused for a moment, made suspicious by how easy this all seemed. If this was a trap...

Then he would escape it. They would take the chance. If it meant putting this gangster behind bars, it was the risk they would have to take. Rorschach waved Nightshade over to him and they sneaked their way to the back. Rorschach climbed in through the window, then turned to help Nightshade inside. She gave him an odd look. Rorschach peered into the other room, where one man sat on the suitcases looking half asleep while another man stood idly by, talking his ear off.

"...And I'm telling you--aieee!"

Rorschach had jumped at the man who was standing, tackling him and sending him tumbling into the other man. The three of them rolled around in a tangle of arms, legs, and suitcases. Only Rorschach emerged. Money, probably counterfeit, rose up on the wind coming in from the open kitchen window and began to billow about the room.

"What the hell's going on in there?" asked a voice that sounded like Military Man's. He rounded the corner and Nightshade smashed a chair into his face.

Rorschach swooped into the next room, elbowing one man in the stomach and ducking a punch from one of Big Figure's giant henchmen. The punch missed Rorschach and crunched into the man who had been sitting with his feet on the table earlier. Rorschach jumped onto the table and grabbed the metal poker set case and slammed the hard edge into the giant's eye. He screamed and fell back, clutching at his face as blood streamed from it. Rorschach took Nightshade's earlier example and hit him over the head with a chair, which shattered into pieces. He was still standing, so he used two more chairs to down him.

Nightshade ran towards the remaining big henchman, feigning an attack before ducking down and landing her full weight onto his kneecap as she kicked it. He went down with a cry, and then a choke as she kicked him in the throat. She grabbed Rorschach's discarded poker set case and beat him over the head until he was down. Nightshade looked up to see Big Figure cowering in the corner of the room as Rorschach loomed over him.

"P-Please don't," said Big Figure. "I'll do anything, give you anything! You want money? I'll give you money!"

"We have little use for money," said Rorschach.

"Yeah? Well, uh, I'll get my men out of the streets. They'll stop bothering you."

"We have no short supply of crime fighters to stop them ourselves."

"Are you... are you going to kill me?"

"Turning you in -- stopping you at the height of your career."

Nightshade began to laugh, and Big Figure narrowed his eyes.

"Eh? Are you making fun of me?"

Rorschach shrugged. He was bored of this man who was all talk and wasn't even that in the end. He leaned over and flipped Big Figure around and trussed him up like the swine he was.

"Hey! You untie me you--urmph!" Big Figure gagged on the wad of money that Rorschach shoved into his mouth. He struggled, to no avail.

"We can turn him in for your photo opportunity," said Rorschach, who felt strangely elated.

Nightshade's eyes brightened when she smiled at him.

"You should be in the photo too, you know."

Rorschach paused. He wasn't for publicity shots. The police hadn't seen him, even. He was just a story among the thugs who shuddered to see him even pass them by in the streets.

"I don't think that is necessary," he told her.

"Oh come on," said Nightshade, grabbing his arm. He froze when the fabric of her chest brushed up against it. "We did this together. We'll show Ozzy and Night Owl Jr. we can do things without all their flair and money."

Rorschach lost the ability to form words. Big Figure mumbled something through his gag that sounded a lot like "Oh brother". Nightshade smiled down at the crime boss before moving to the end of the room where she found a phone. She made a few calls and looked up. She seemed excited and all Rorschach could do was stare, fascinated. Big Figured struggled a little and said something again. Rorschach shook him a little and he fell silent.

The police came ten minutes later. The press trailed behind them like ants. The police had to create a line between the reporters and the building, pushing them back while interrogating Nightshade, who seemed all too eager to tell them what happened. Big Figure sat sullen through it all, looking like a little Christmas ham on the table where Rorschach had left him.

"Miss... Nightshade, is it?" said the police officer she had been speaking to. "Would you mind if we let the press members in, one by one? Just one question and photo opportunity each. There are about a dozen of them out there. If you would rather be left in private, we understand. We could even escort you out the back if you wish."

Nightshade looked at Rorschach, who shrugged.

"We don't mind at all," she told the officer.

The officer seemed surprised when he turned to look at Rorschach. He nodded at them, then at another officer near the door. Nightshade smiled at Rorschach and waved him over. He picked up Big Figure from off the table and carried him to her like a bag of groceries and set him down between them. The newspaper folk came in one by one, asking questions that Nightshade answered. Then they took picture after picture until Rorschach could hardly see anymore. He glanced at Nightshade, whose eagerness was apparent even through her mask.

"We make a great team," she told him.

Rorschach gave her a smile and for once wished she could see it.

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To be continued...