Layla

Chapter 17: Hunt for Mutants

March 18, 1962

(10:30 am)

"We've already discovered the location of one of us!" Hank said with excitement as he placed the map out in front of the team. 

It was a map of the DC metro area, highlighting DC, northern Virginia, and parts of southern Maryland. On the center of the map somewhere in downtown DC, there was a single red dot on the map surrounded by orange dots. Orange to confirm that a mutant had been at that location, red to confirm the mutant was definitely at that location. Hank had devised the simple map system himself, just tweaking it slightly to make it easier to understand for the rest of the team. 

Hank had already drawn up several maps for the team within the last 24 hours, he truly was as Raven had called him "amazing". His quick mind had already deciphered the geographic locations of half a map in the Virginia and Maryland region. A look about his lab revealed already he had maps prepared for Delaware, West Virginia and North Carolina. At this rate, they would have all states and parts of Mexico and Canada down before the end of the month. 

Layla looked on at the map as she wondered why the red dot was the lead they were going to follow. There were at least three dozen dots on the map, though she imagined some of them were merely tourists looking to explore the capital city, there had to be some natives of the city living in those same spots. 

Some of them were clearly where the popular tourist spots were, not that some natives couldn't visit those areas, but more than likely a native of DC was visiting the White House so casually. In fact, there was more than one dot where the White House was located, likely a group of mutants had been visiting when Charles had used Cerebro. Or perhaps the President was a mutant too? She couldn't help but smile at that. 

"This location here is the most likely spot," Hank continued. "I called, it's a popular hang out for the elite of DC; politicians, foreign dignitaries, you get the idea." 

"And what makes you so sure that the mutant we are looking for will be there," Erik asked as he pointed to the other dots on the map. "How do we know that one of them could be right here?" 

Erik pointed to a dot on the map that was clearly a residential location. Alexandria, Virginia was a popular suburb of DC, easily there could be two dozen mutants living in that suburb alone. Realistically at least. 

"We want to avoid drawing interest into the CIA dealings in residential zones," Hank explained as he pointed once more to the red dot. "This is a Gentleman's club frequented by politicians and the likes, it could be one of the girls working there or perhaps even a Senator!" 

A Gentleman's club? What in the hell was a gentleman's club? It sounded like a place where men go and drink brandy while smoking fine Cuban cigars and discussing how they could spend their money poorly on their mistresses. Whatever the hell it was, it sounded seedy as hell, and Layla was not about to enter that place alone. 

Charles was the one to notice the confusion and discomfort on Layla's face. He looked uncomfortably to Hank before pointing to the red dot on the map again, his expression was one of mirth if she were being honest with herself. Apparently, a gentleman's club was just something that everyone knew about but her. 

"It's a place where men go to see women dance in their undergarments," Charles explained. "Hank are you sure that is the first place you want us to go?" 

Hank, the pervert apparently, just shyly looked away. Yes, apparently this man wanted them to go to a seedy bar and check to see if one of the sex workers was a mutant or perhaps one of the disgusting customers? Oh, how to explain to the CIA that they had brought back a member of the Senate with x-ray vision or whatever hellish ability a member of congress would have?