September 28th 2014

Bludhaven 5:04 AM PST

"Why don't you ring the doorbell?"

Felicity's suggestion might've sounded totally reasonable if wasn't currently dressed as the Arrow.

He knocked down the door of the flat, bow raised and treaded inside. It was currently being rented by the maître'd from the restaurant bomb weeks ago. Tom Ridby. Oliver tracked him down to Bludhaven. He had evaded them almost expertly for nearly a month but he hadn't become so invisible that even Felicity couldn't find him.

Ridby's temporary residence was a sty; a foul smell was wafting from the bedroom, he scrunched his nose trying to blow it out of his mouth.

"Anyone home?" Felicity asked over the comm from the Foundry back in Starling.

If Tom was home Oliver would've heard running footsteps by now he hadn't bothered to be quiet with his entrance.

"Not exactly".

"Could you be a little more specific?"

He was half certain of what he would find the moment he walked into the master bedroom. Closer, he turned through the doorway.

Tom Ridby was slumped in an arm chair, milky pale face, glassy eyes staring at the ceiling…an arrow through his mouth. Dried blood pooled and streaked down his chin gruesomely.

His killer had literally silenced him.

Oliver turned away as the scent of rotting flesh hit his nose on full force. He clicked his speaker, "Ridby's dead".

Behind him Roy groaned in repulsion as it hit him too and he ducked his head back into the hallway. "Someone got to him first then" he mumbled.

"Tying lose ends" Oliver got his hand around the arrow shaft and pulled it out of Tom's corpse.

"How can you stand it?"

Because I've seen worse. "Experience" he made a closer inspection of the murder weapon and then looked through the window at the stark black buildings against the midnight blue haze of the horizon. "Search the apartment for anything, we need to get this back to Starling ASAP, and before daylight breaks".

Roy glanced back into the bedroom and pointed at the arrow in his hand. "Any idea whom it belongs too?"

"I have a few".

The Foundry, Starling City, 12:12 PM PST

As he replaced his gear in their casings he went through a mental to-do list. Find who planted the bomb, check. Trace the archer who murdered him, to-do. There was still CADMUS to investigate and he'd asked Diggle a favour to go to ARGUS and see if they had anything on the elusive research facility. He glanced at Felicity, as always she was at her chair, researching and staying alert on the police scanner, that's something I don't have to worry about, a romantic relationship— doesn't make me feel any better though. Nevertheless, he was glad she had stayed on to help, at least they didn't have to tiptoe around each other anymore he told himself, they were done, buried in the ground.

It made him miss someone else more though; his sister.

"Something wrong?" Roy asked.

"Have you heard from Thea? She hasn't texted me in nearly a month. The last time we spoke she was in Venice and then nothing."

Roy shifted his feet oddly, "no I haven't heard from her".

"You want cross the pond and bring her back?" Said the IT tech.

He had thought about it constantly, but one thing he'd learnt when it came to having a teenage sister was to let them have their space. He remembered when she was in her early teens and how she would slam the door in his face after a trivial argument they'd had about the minor chores their mother had given them like washing the dishes or walking the dog. He had been quite the annoying prick at times, but it wasn't like she had been any easier to get along with back then. He sighed nostalgically. "No, I should let her have her time."

Roy was starting to look uncomfortable. "There's something I need to tell you Oliver, about Thea" he blurted. "I'm worried that she's not where she says she is."

"Why would you think that?"

He rubbed his neck and then went to his backpack hanging on a hook at the back, Oliver glanced at Felicity questioningly, she shrugged she didn't know what was going on either. Roy walked to him holding out a folded piece of paper, a letter. "You should probably just read it."

As he unfolded the page and read it, he became more worried with each passing line, the crease in his forehead deepening.

"How long have you had this for?"

"Since the night of the siege, we were supposed to run away together, but she found my training equipment. My lies hurt her and she skipped town."

It made more sense then. How could he have let her go without making she sure was a hundred percent content? Those 24 hours of the siege had been hectic; there was Slade, his friends, the SCPD, the citizens of Starling, the mirakuru soldiers, and League assassins occupying his mind, but in the end he should've paid more attention to Thea and where she was going. He shook his head and folded the letter again, giving it to its owner. "Some of it is my fault too; everyone in her life lied to her" said Oliver. Hopefully she'll forgive me.

"To protect her" Roy added, though probably more to ease his own conscience than Oliver's. Roy was the last person to see Thea, the last person she could count on. He's been living and hurting with this for several months now.

"Whatever it is, I'm glad you told me. I miss my sister and now I know how I can help her. Since we're both worried, could you trace her phone Felicity?"

"On it."

September 28th 2014

Corto Maltese, 13:20 PM EST

Malcolm waited for his guest on the patio. From where he stood he could see the sea vista, as blue as sapphires stretching into the horizon. The sun was at its peak in the sky, clear of clouds, a pleasant wind billowing through the tall curtains that hung at the porch windows making it seem as though the mansion would sail off into the sea at any moment. It was a perfect retreat for him and his daughter safety-wise; the Caribbean island was a known asylum for exiles, dictators and a cesspool of corruption. With the rebels stirred against the island's prime minister and the royalists rioting in the town, he did not know how much safer it would be. But he had other problems to consider; the League, and at the moment, my guest of honour…who is making me wait restlessly for their arrival.

He didn't have to wait much longer; the soft tap of stiletto's turned his gaze away from the view.

"Malcolm" she said, smiling easily and holding her hands out to him as though to embrace an old friend. His guest was of height with him and glided with the grace of a swan in a long, white Grecian dress, chestnut hair and eyes the colour of the ocean, beautiful in a way which made you wish you knew her so that you could shine by simply being in her presence.

He hated the very sight of her almost as strongly as he hated the sight of Ra's Al Ghul.

"It's a pleasure to see you again after so long" he gave her the most perfunctory of kisses on the cheek. He led her to sit with him on the lounge chairs and offered a drink, it was only a courtesy. One thing he did not miss about being a businessman was the niceties and manners that were required of him when dealing with clients under the guise of the CEO of Merlyn Global. Days long gone now.

"Don't be so formal. I thought we were friends." She gave a little knowing smile and brushed his inner thigh. He had been fooled by the siren's charms once before, not again. He pushed it away. She was exactly the kind of woman society would've expected him to marry after Rebecca, but society was full of ignorant morons who saw nothing below the surface of a pretty smile and large charitable donations.

"Stop playing Adeline." She looked up with an air of injured innocence, he had lost his patience. "We made boundaries and you crossed them."

Her face became as hard as diamonds. "I have it handled".

"Do you?"

She pouted and stretched her long neck, "I didn't come here to discuss that".

"Then why are you here?"

Now we see her, the Queen of the council, the powerful feral beauty. "Do not think your absence has gone unnoticed" she hissed poisonously, leaning to him, and held Malcolm's eye. "Your membership is not optional. Don't expect us to welcome you back into our ranks every time you desire to turn up to a meeting. We don't work that way. There are no lawyers in our world, no justice system to hide behind, you face the consequences alone."

Malcolm grinned and nestled into the arm chair, his chin resting softly on the back of his hand. "You were never skilled with making threats were you Adeline? Don't presume to shove the terms of the constitution down my throat. I helped make them remember?"

She laughed musically. It was hard to believe that anyone who could make such a sound could be a threat or anything other than a perfectly charming wealthy woman in her early forties holidaying on a tropical island. And yet I am not entirely convinced.

"You were highly recommended you know? I thought you would be a great investment. But instead you have been a great disappointment. We gained nothing from you, your plan failed, because a masked archer vigilante called the Arrow defeated you, because you lost control."

"And how do you justify your actions this past year?" He retorted after she reminded him of the Undertaking.

She narrowed her eyes, "don't goad me with notions of justification. I am on the council. I could have you removed with a flick of my hand; the world thinks you're dead, nobody would think to look for you." Her crystal eyes shifted to the mansion and then back to him, she grinned vindictively like a shark with two rows of perfect white teeth, "I also saw your ward. The promise of a second chance must be very endearing since your first met such an unfortunate end. Suddenly so full of hope are we? Well, I'll make sure the oceans currents take her body far, far away—"

At the mention of Thea he moved forward and latched onto her wrist, twisting it enough to incite the barest hint of pain though she did not show it. "You want to dance?" He growled "send one of your operatives to butcher me in my sleep? Go Ahead. I dare you" he tightened his hold. "You did not earn any of this through blood, sweat and tears. That's what you tell yourself so you can sleep at night with your hollow pride. Remembers whose shoulder's you stood on to get to where you are. Mine. If I move, you'll go down with me."

He nodded to her, "Good day Ms. Kane"

Adeline displayed no sign of defeat; with clear professional expertise she turned her hand to hold his wrist and twisted it so he would release her. She knows how to fight. She glared at him and stood, smoothing her dress. "You know this isn't over. Good Day Malcolm. I'll see myself out". I have no doubt you'll fulfill your promise, he thought as she strode back inside and out the front door.

Corto Maltese isn't safe anymore. He realized he had been sweating, which was unlike him. He went into the mansion and crossed paths with Thea; she removed the training helmet and sheathed her sword.

"Hey dad" she greeted brightly, "what have you been up to? I see you had a lady friend over".

Malcolm could tell what she was hinting at, he chuckled sardonically at how far from the truth her statement was. "Don't get any ideas. That's all she is, a friend."

"Well, she's very pretty".

"Many think so too, but looks can be deceiving." He clasped her shoulder with firm protectiveness, "next time I have guests, stop whatever you're doing, even if it's training and go upstairs."

She frowned suspiciously, "your friend is starting to sound more like an enemy".

That was exactly what she would become if he didn't get his allegiances sorted out. All he wanted out of life now was simple; get rid of Kane and get rid of Ra's Al Ghul, and then he'd truly be free. Easier said than done however. He didn't want to worry his daughter with the details. Though she would probably get them out of him eventually.

"Care to explain?" Thea asked.

"A man like me does not get to where he is without making enemies…and without the help of allies. Except she's an ally I no longer have any use for, problem is, we've come to a disagreement, and that makes her a threat."

Thea folded her arms and looked at him thoughtfully. "So… are you going to kill her?" He was a little surprised that she would ask but he'd never given her a reason not to wonder about his special set of skills and the circumstances in which he would use them. He shook his head.

"No. If only it was that easy."

"Why? What does she have that we don't?"

"An army."

The Glades, Starling City, 15:26 PM PST

The Red Hood leered at him from atop the upper gallery, mask blood red akin to its bearer. "Why have you come here?" He asked monotonously. Werner Zyrtle could not discern what was beneath the mask and it made him hate dealing with mercenaries and gang leaders even more. He had been sent back to Starling after successful distribution in Markovia, his mysterious benefactor had enough to restart Vertigo production within the States after the Arrow had thwarted their initial batches. But it seemed to Werner that he was being treated more like an errand boy than a drug lord, he had created the new strain of Vertigo after all, he deserved more.

Red Hood had been growing in reputation and authority within the Glades, enough that Werner Zyrtle and his other masked partner- the blonde assassin-had decided to associate themselves with the leader to bring crimes bosses into the fold of the Vertigo Empire that had remarkably managed to develop in the shadows right under the Arrow's nose. Four of Red Hood's men stood in the gloom beneath the balcony. Was a mistake to come here? Was it a mistake to even partner with him in the first place?

He smoothed his dapper suit; it did not suit the dusty, abandoned electric plant Red Hood had chosen to make as his base. "I need to break into prison, several prisons actually, a coordinated infiltration if possible" he said answering the question diplomatically, he had to give the leader credit for being a pleasant host.

"Why? Trying to get someone out?"

Werner smiled slyly. "Not exactly."

He thought he heard Red Hood snigger, he was too far above for him tell. "You skirted off to Markovia before I could tell you that we no longer have a contract, you abused a term in our agreement and I terminated our partnership."

Zyrtle narrowed his eyes; he despised being played for a fool.

"And what term would that be?" Red Hood grasped the railing and leaped over it; he soared down twenty feet and landed like a gymnast on the floor in front of Zyrtle, a cloud of grey dust pounded into the air beneath his shoes.

"I told you to stay off the school yards and you did not listen". There was antagonism in his response, and in the broad stance he held as if attempting to intimidate him, all the polite diplomacy thrown out the window. He dares to threaten me merely because Vertigo has reached the pockets of mindless, irresponsible, joy-seeking teenagers?

"Truly? That is your reason? How inane of you. You do not want to test me, boy; you know nothing of this city. If we had not been partners you'd still be scraping the barrel for some recognition in this town. I gave that to you".

Red Hood folded his arms with a blatant arrogance that reminded Zyrtle of the female assassin he had had to partner with, such blunt insolence, such unabashed disrespect for his betters the self-satisfied prick.

"I know more than you think Zyrtle. Now, go tell your boss that I don't work for him. Oh yes, I know you're not the one who's really pulling the strings, so don't pretend like you have any ownership around here, you don't, you're not a player just another pawn. Very soon, the Glades, the crime in the city, it'll all be mine. I'm going to enjoy the day you bow down to me".

Red Hood took a step towards him and Werner's guards took one as well. He held his hand up to stop them before this could turn into an unnecessary confrontation. Werner knew when to stand down, all they were doing was talking, getting nowhere, and he would just have to find someone else to complete the task given to him.

"Ambitious goals you've set yourself Red Hood. We'll see who's the player and the pawn".

He stood outside the plant afterwards, a grim downturn to his mouth, he dialled on his phone.

"I told you not to call on this line" the woman on the other end immediately said exasperatedly.

"I have to speak with him."

"He's unavailable." She replied as if she had a hundred better things to do than to have a conversation with him, it put Zyrtle even more on edge than he already was.

"Then leave a message for me. We have a problem. I don't have the resources to do what you want me too."

"Mr. Zyrtle, I think I can help you."

Approaching him was one of Red Hood's guards. His own made to apprehend him but Werner stopped them before they could attack.

"Do you now? I'm all ears."

"I know the kind of person you're looking for."

He smiled at the turn of events; nothing pleased him more than seeing one of Red Hood's own men betray him.

"Then let's talk".

Starling Penitentiary, 16:22 PM PST

After another unsuccessful attempt at convincing the DEA to take the deals, Laurel stomped outside to the foyer giving Bill I-can't-abide-to-those-terms Baston a dirty look as he slinked passed her. It was beginning to appear as though DEA had no interest in uncovering the network of drug cartels within Starling that might have branched out from Vertigo, more like they had a specific goal to waste her time and feed false hope to the families of those she was trying to help. Could there be another reason for this farce?

"Hey Dad" she said answering her phone.

"Hey Laurel, listen, I can't talk for long, but I have some bad news" he paused like he did when he wanted to brace her for bad news. "Vertigo is back in the city. We busted a few low level dealers, it isn't much dope but it's enough to be worried about. Thought you should know. How are the negotiations going? A little insight could give us a jumpstart ahead of these scumbags".

Was it possible for her day to get any worse? She wished she could give him good news but then she'd be lying. "They're going south unfortunately; I'm trying my best here"

"I know you are sweetie, I think I'll have a word with Baston see what's taking him so goddamn long to make up his mind."

"I'd appreciate it dad, he's a tough nut. And thanks for telling me."

As she hung up a familiar woman approached her hesitantly it was not uncommon for her to meet demanding family members. "Ms. Lance".

"Mrs. Diego, you shouldn't be here" said the pregnant wife of one of the detainees, Nathanial Diego whom she had visited a few days ago in Iron Heights, a visit which had ended in another unfruitful stab at shortening his prison sentence. It looked like Mrs. Diego was starting to stalk her and was getting more persistent by the day. I'm doing everything I can lady!

"Have there been any developments? Please let me talk before you cut me off" she held her hand to stop Laurel from overriding her as she commonly did. "I am very concerned about my husband's welfare. How much longer is he going to stay in prison? Is he ever going to get out? Be a part of our family again?" She held her large stomach gently, gazing lovingly at it and the life growing inside of it.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Diego, I can't do—"

"—anything for me, now. Yes, it's what you say every time I ask" she snapped which Laurel found a little prejudiced.

"Your husband committed a felony ma'am, he made drugs and those drugs were sold to kids. I'm sorry but most people would think your husband deserves to be locked up."

"Don't you think I know that?" She practically screamed, Laurel glanced around, the cop at the counter was staring at them, she nudged Mrs. Diego to a discreet corner, the woman was heavily pregnant after all no use in stressing her out further. "Do you have any idea what our life has been like after the Undertaking? We lost our home, our livelihood, how could it get worse? Then the Siege happened." Mrs. Diego looked exhausted by the end of it, Lance helped her sit down on a bench and then sat down beside her, she only needed someone to listen to her wares and worries and the least Laurel could do was lend her ear for that. "We needed money and Zyrtle had a plan; he said he was protected, that he could protect us too. I'm not ashamed of my husband, everything he did, he did for us."

She took in a deep breath and rubbed her stomach; Laurel held her hand with hers and squeezed gently in a reassuring manner.

"I understand, truly, I suffered too." Tommy. "You're just going to have to trust me ma'am."

"Then help us" she pleaded.

She released the wife's hand and lowered her voice away from any listening ears. "Under the strictest confidence. The DEA won't take any of the deals I formulated and I don't know why. But I have it on good word that Vertigo has found its way back into the city. If you want to help your husband then I need information, you could help me with that."

Her eyes widened with hope, she shook her head devotedly. "Anything."

"Did Zyrtle give your family any money after your husband was imprisoned? Be honest with me." At the drug lord's name her demeanour changed from wilful to anxious she would not meet Laurel's gaze. "Do you want your husband to be present for the birth of your child?"

She nodded getting back into the conversation. "Yes, yes of course I do. Well there was something. Nate gave me the key to a private safe at the bank, I checked it out and there was five-thousand in cash inside. Zyrtle gave it to us, to keep us quiet. I was grateful, for a little while—but waiting on illegal drug money every month not knowing if it's even going to come is no way for me to live, let alone raise a baby as a single mother." She leaned in at a conspiratorial distance. "There's something else, Bill Baston, he can't be trusted."

"What do you mean?" Mrs. Diego looked around the foyer fearfully as if a wolf would jump out and eat her at any moment. Laurel grabbed her hand again. "Don't be afraid, I won't let him near your family".

She gulped, "I live in the Glades Ms. Lance, so you hear things. Baston used to be paid off by the cartel down in New Mexico to look the other way so they could trade across the borders. Now he's here, running an entire division of the DEA! Please we both want this whole thing to be over, but that'll only happen if Baston isn't on the case."

Laurel had had an inkling this DEA agent could not be trusted. Baston is suspected of working with Zyrtle from the start, Zyrtle has a second in command still within Starling paying off the families to keep their jailed loved ones from the spilling the beans, yet Baston is persistently refusing to allow any of the negotiations to follow through so that the detainees would never get their re-trials or any prospect of freedom. How does that even work? Aren't they just working against one another? Wouldn't it be better for everyone if the prisoners could get out of jail as soon as possible so that they wouldn't have to keep dropping hundreds of thousands in cash to keep everyone quiet?

There was also the wild card that was the League of Assassins that fit absolute nowhere in the puzzle. The latter was so bizarre, how could she even explain it anyone who wasn't her father? She hadn't even told him yet, learning that the organization Sara had sworn herself into was somehow a part of this would only worsen his condition.

As for Laurel, none of it added up. What would Sara say? Think like a criminal.

New players to the game=more intrigue. So who's Zyrtles mysterious benefactor? What is the Council and why do they have an army?

Next chapter; more of Team Arrow, Diggle pays a visit, we see Werner's errand unfold and some flashbacks! See ya then.