Chapter Four
I logged off my laptop. I had arrived at the safe house a few hours ago. I'd been there for almost a half an hour when the alarm rang. Someone was hacking one of the databases I had secured. I'd secured the police department, fire department and medical databases so I would know when they were accessed and hacked. I don't enjoy having other people try things without my permission. The hospital database had been taken, with a view of the young hero. It appeared he had been seriously injured during the explosion I triggered. I had assumed that it had been an idiot member of the gangs, to drunk and slow to get out. I don't doubt that there were a few still in there hiding when the place went up in flames, but I was surprised when one was brought away in an ambulance. I now knew.
You know what they say about assuming.
From a view of the hall outside I saw the Batman come from the room that the hacking had been traced back to, then slip into the shadows. I quickly checked the hospital for the others. Robin was the one in the room with the substantial injuries. The two speedsters were discussing something in the cafeteria. The Batman had set a bug in the system to keep an eye on his protégé. Currently he wasn't hurting anything of mine, so I let him keep his little bug. After all, I was the one with followers in the hospital and complete control of the little bird's care.
As long as the young hero was injured he would be in the hospital, and as long as he was in the hospital, the other heroes would linger.
"My Queen?" Jonathon addressed me from behind. I turned in the chair to show I was finished and listening. "Bane has set up a video communication. He awaits you, madam."
"Thank you. But do not call me madam. I dislike the term." I swiftly locked the computer and stepped out of the room to the joint kitchen, dining, and living area. In the corner on the desk was a desktop with a webcam. I sat in front of the webcam and a masked face came into view on the screen.
"Hola pequeña reina de corazones. I have come to speak of our prior arrangements. If you are not already aware, The Batman is in your city. While I am eager for our deal, I cannot risk being seen by him. Pero, I am curious. Why did you blow up your own building?" He was smirking beneath that hideous mask.
"Sacrifice, gran traficante de drogas, is a necessity when dealing with adversaries. Even now, you and Dr. Ivy are the only villains that know of me. That only being because one of your drug lines had to be… redirected. Though I would like to speak with her on the anti-heroin project we spoke of a few months ago. But that isn't what as important as the deal we would be discussing." I answered. This drug deal I needed to have the money to fund my latest project.
"Like I said señorita, I cannot risk being seen. We will have to put off our meeting until you manage to" he laughed lightly "cleanse the city of them. Estoy seguro de que será capaz de hacerlo, reina."
I was getting frustrated with him by this point. I did not wish to wait. If this drug deal did not go as planned on schedule, I would have to wait another year to be able to continue and then push many things to be faster than I would be comfortable with them being. "What if I could make it worth your while, there is something I am sure you would pay a great deal for." I did not wish to play this card, but the need for this was greater than the risk.
"And what might that be?" He did not believe I had something truly worthwhile for him.
"Robin." The name hung in the air for several moments before I continued to speak to the now shocked villain. "He was injured very heavily in the explosion. He is now unconscious in the Plattsburgh hospital ICU. We can easily meet outside the city for the deal to keep you from sight, and I can easily bring the poor unconscious protégé to you. Would that be worth your while? I am sure if it is not that there are many others would love to have him, and pay very well for him too."
I was baiting him into coming. Giving him the sidekick would not only bring him here, but I didn't necessarily have to give him the boy. My statement was true. There were a great number of people who would pay great deal of money to have the Batman's protégé wrapped up for them in a nice little package. And with the state that he was in, it would be easy.
"Tienes el niño? No. Not even you would be able to do that-"
"You don't think I have plenty of agents in the hospital? I can easily take the boy. Or kill him." I got an idea. "Perhaps you would like to see his injuries to be sure?" Without waiting for an answer I pulled up a video feed from the hospital to show him. "This is the boy wonder." He was still covered in bandages and had his mask on, but anyone could tell it was Robin.
"Perhaps it is worth my while to come speak with you. I trust you could have a place out of the city for me to stay?" I nodded. "entonces voy a ver este sabado, pequeña reina."
I switched the video call off without another word.
When Kid Flash woke up the first thing he noticed was how quiet it was. Most Saturday mornings were filled with the sound of M'gann making pancakes and eggs or people talking. Then he looked over to his alarm clock and realized why.
'It's seriously one thirty. We did have a late night. Might as well get food.'
Stepping out into the hallway the ginger continued to the kitchen to make food. After he started on inhaling his fourth bowl of cereal he heard someone clear their throat behind them.
Wally turned around. "Hey Zee. You're up late."
She shook her head. "And you're on your fourth bowl of cereal. Actually I've been reading in my room for the last half an hour. Conner and Megan are at her cheerleading practice, Kaldur's back in Atlantis visiting the queen, Artemis is at home-said something about a history paper- and Red's out." She sat down across from him. "So spill." She gave him a meaningful look.
Swallowing Wally nervously laughed. "Spill what Zee? I've-" she cut him off with another look. "Fine." He looked at the table and set his spoon down. "I'll tell you."
The translations are
Hola pequeña reina de corazones = Hello little queen of hearts
Pero = but
gran traficante de drogas = great drug dealer
señorita = you should know what this means
Estoy seguro de que será capaz de hacerlo, reina = I am sure you will be able to, queen
Tienes el niño? = you have the boy?
entonces voy a ver este sabado, pequeña reina. = then I will see you Saturday, little queen.
(part of the translations are my own Spanish, but some are from Google translate because I'm not fluent.)
Yes! I have ideas! It is beautiful! But you will hate me. Why?
Because someone is going to die.