Ch. 47
"So, where to next?" Nite Owl II asked, as they hovered over the city.
Laurie looked behind her at Rorschach, who appeared to be pacing again. Either he didn't hear the question, or he had Nite Owl II on ignore by default.
"Well, uh," Laurie said, as she frowned. Then she had an idea. "How about the docks?"
"All right," said Nite Owl II. Laurie waited for him to ask why and was surprised when he didn't. Of course, she was used to Rorschach who asked a million questions.
"Is the Comedian absent?" Rorschach asked. He was suddenly over her shoulder, and Laurie jumped.
"Yes," she said, a bit louder than was necessary.
"Hm," said Rorschach. He leaned in close to her ear and whispered so that Nite Owl II couldn't hear him. "Where is he?"
"In Vietnam," Laurie whispered to him. "Dan knows he's my dad, remember?"
"Oh, I know," Rorschach said. "I just don't want him to know."
Laurie and Rorschach turned and looked at Nite Owl II, but he seemed oblivious. They landed on a building near the docks, got out together and set off on foot. The docks were swarming with activity. The criminals seemed to know that the Comedian was gone, and like rats they had come out from the little niches they had been hiding in. They seemed quite surprised when the three crime fighters descended upon them. As annoying as Dan had been at times, Nite Owl II was a very effective fighting partner, and Laurie was glad he was with them. Nite Owl II seemed to be thinking the same thing, as he excitedly discussed the events of that night with Laurie afterwards as they returned to Archie. Laurie turned to look at Rorschach, but he seemed to be unusually quiet that day. He appeared to be brooding about something, and she was afraid that he was getting annoyed with Dan again.
Laurie stared at Rorschach, hoping to catch his eye, and when he finally looked up, she gestured to Nite Owl II and grimaced at him in apology. Rorschach shrugged and shook his head at her. After they were in the air again, Nite Owl II asked if they wanted to be dropped off at their usual place, but Rorschach suggested somewhere else. Laurie said nothing as Nite Owl II listened to Rorschach's directions and dropped them off in an unfamiliar area.
Laurie started to go down the ramp with Rorschach, confused.
"Hey, don't forget your pictures!" Nite Owl II called out to them.
Laurie turned and ran back to get the two photos from where she and Rorschach had left them and joined Rorschach outside. Rorschach took the pictures and put them in his coat. They stood in a nearby alleyway and watched as Nite Owl II flew off.
"So," Laurie said, as soon as the owl ship was out of sight, "Where are we?"
Rorschach said nothing. He just took her hand and led her in a direction and she followed him. Rorschach looked around him as he took them into an apartment building and up the stairs. Rorschach paused in front of a particular unit and Laurie peered around him. It wasn't until he took out a set of keys and started to open the door that Laurie realized he lived here.
Laurie stared, surprised -- she would have guessed what he was doing earlier if she had expected him to, but this had come as a complete shock to her. Rorschach went inside, turned on the light, looked around, took off his hat and mask and stood aside to let her go in front of him. Laurie smiled at him as she brushed past and noticed that he looked quite nervous.
Walter closed the door behind them and locked it. Laurie looked around the small apartment as Walter turned on more lights. The first thing Laurie noted was how clean the apartment was. This wasn't the practical sort of clean that Blake's house was; this was the sort of clean that made Laurie afraid to touch anything for fear of dirtying it or putting it out of its place. A three-foot long hallway made its short stretch from the door before it turned sharply to a small kitchen on the right. A living area was straight ahead, and to the left, another short hallway that Laurie assumed ran into Walter's bedroom.
Laurie turned and beamed at Walter. He avoided looking at her.
"You could sit down if you wish," he told her. He leaned close to her as he gestured to the small couch before them. Laurie sat down gingerly and looked up at Walter, who was still standing.
"You have a very clean apartment," she told him.
Walter gave her a tight-lipped smile. Laurie almost asked him if there was anything the matter, but she noticed a particular frame on the wall and stood up again. Laurie walked to the end of the room and smiled. Walter had framed the article about their involvement in Big Figure's capture.
"You framed it?" Laurie said. "That's very sweet."
Walter grunted and threw out his hands.
"What's wrong, Walter?" Laurie asked, frowning as she sat back down on the couch.
Laurie thought she might have to pry the answer out of Walter, but he seemed to have been waiting for her to ask the question.
"Agent Orange," he told her. "I'm sure you're absolutely sick of hearing about him; but he's driving me insane."
"How?" Laurie asked. "I don't remember hearing about him at all."
"Hooded Justice II," Walter said, sounding very aggravated. "He's out there committing crimes and they're rewarding him for it! This is why he started; to gain recognition, and we wouldn't give it to him here. But they're handing everything he wants over there in that crazy place."
"Oh," said Laurie. She was quite surprised by the news. "How did you know Hooded Justice II and Agent Orange were the same person?"
"The smile -- it was in the picture. Didn't you see it?"
Laurie shook her head, and Walter started to pace around the room again.
"He's been taunting me for a while," he told her, "Knew he was somewhere in California, but had no idea what he was up to. I mean, one can only guess what people like that do to pass the time normally, but I thought he was in hiding."
"Maybe he wants to be caught," Laurie said.
"Probably -- yes, I think so," Walter nodded. "By me, for some reason. He is insane."
"Walter, if he's insane, why are you letting him get to you?"
"Doesn't it bother you?" he asked her. "Doesn't it bother you that he is murdering people? He is murdering them in the name of justice but he knows nothing about it. He only knows the concept of justice but he doesn't feel what's right or wrong inside him. He has no conscience."
"That's true," said Laurie, "But there are many murderers like him out there."
"Nothing to this degree," he told her. "I am guessing he must have killed at least thirty people already."
Laurie put a hand to her mouth.
"But Walter," she said, after a moment. "You already caught him before and he got away."
"Correct."
"Then how do you know you can catch him again and that he will stay caught?"
"I have some ideas," he said. He gave her such a piercing look Laurie felt afraid to speak for a moment.
Walter made a frustrated sound and crossed the room and reached under a cabinet. He started pulling out papers and postcards. Laurie stood up and walked over to him. She kneeled down next to him and peered over his shoulder as he looked through the postcards and tossed many aside.
"Are those from Agent Orange?" Laurie asked.
"He's sent me practically everything except for a birthday present," Walter told her. "Look, he even sent me a Christmas card."
Laurie picked the card up and stared at it -- a generic card full of well wishes and season's greetings. Nothing written in it in hand but a smile. Laurie froze.
"Walter," she said, voice a near whisper. Walter looked up at her sharply.
"What is it?" he asked her.
"What does Agent Orange look like?"
Walter paused for a moment.
"Normal," he said. "Average build, probably five ten, blonde, green eyes."
Mister S. Miles...Funny, gag gift?
Laurie swallowed her fear and felt incredibly stupid.
"What is it?" Walter asked. "Did you see him?"
Laurie nodded.
"Where?" Walter grabbed her shoulder and shook her a little. Laurie cringed and hugged him. Suddenly she regretted ever mentioning this to Walter.
"He...He sent me flowers," she told him. "When I was in the hospital. They were delivered by this man... My dad was so upset about the flowers I forgot about the man."
Walter was saying something, but she couldn't hear him. Suddenly his arms around her had tightened.
"I saw him again after I got out of the hospital," she told him. "He was so non-chalant, asking me about the time, but he also asked me if I was okay, and I just passed him off as a very odd man."
"Odd is not the word for him, Laurie," Walter said. "Why did you not tell me he sent you those flowers?"
"I forgot," Laurie admitted. "I'm sorry -- I know that's very careless, but after everything that was going on, he was pretty much the furthest thing from my mind."
"I'm going to kill him," Walter said.
"No, Walter," Laurie said, horrified to find that she was laughing a little. "No, no."
"He knew what he was doing," Walter said to her. He pulled away and looked her in the eyes. "If that's how it's going to be, that's how it's going to be. I need to capture him."
"But he's in California," Laurie exclaimed. "How are you going to get him from over here?"
"I need to go California." Walter said. Then he put his hands to his eyes and sighed deeply. "What am I saying? That's just ridiculous. We can't afford to go there."
Laurie blinked a little at his inclusion of her to this trip.
"Well, wait a minute," she said, "I'm sure we can think of something."
"Even if we could, I don't think I can leave work behind for that long without being taken out of the job," Walter explained.
"And yet you're going to sit here and grow angrier each day the longer Agent Orange stays there," Laurie said.
Walter frowned and said nothing. Laurie put her hand on his arm.
"It's okay, Walter," she said. "We'll figure this out. I'll try to help you, don't worry. We'll catch him."
"Ah, well," sighed Walter. Then he fell silent.
"So," said Laurie after a moment as she stood up. She held up her hand for Walter to take it. He did, and she helped him up.
"Yes?" he asked her.
"Am I going to stay here tonight?" Laurie asked, as she leaned in close.
"Yes," he said, looking a little embarrassed.
"Okay, well, just asking, since... You know," Laurie gave him a knowing look. "I don't have anything to change into."
"You can wear my clothes," he told her, in a matter-of-fact tone.
Laurie laughed.
"Fine," she said. "Bundle me up in winter layers until I look like a mushroom."
"If you wish."
Laurie followed Walter into his room and looked about. She nodded. His bed was small, but that meant they could sleep that much closer together. Laurie smiled to herself, a little excited by the prospect.
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To be continued...