Second Chances: Red Arrow

Chapter 10

Tobias Church was growing more and more annoyed with the way Hub City was turning out, since it meant that he was starting to lose control of it. Sure, nothing big had happened yet, but he could tell that there was something in the air and it wasn't the fear that he was so used to feeling from others. The fear of him. No, there was something new in the air now. Hope. Hope of a better life and he didn't like it.

And it all started when rumors of a new vigilante had popped up, though he hadn't given it much thought at the time. This wasn't the first person to play dress up and try to clean up the city and he thought that this person would end up like all the others. Dead. But this one was different. She was skilled, coordinated and far more skilled than any of the others. She reminded him of the rumors he'd been hearing from a contact in Star City about a similar problem. First the Black Canary and now the Green Arrow, though this vigilante appeared to be a woman and because of that, he hadn't given her much thought. Which was proving to be a huge mistake.

However, he was pulled from his thoughts when one of his lieutenants entered the room.

"What is going on and you're not saying that bitch playing little red riding hood is dead, then get the hell out before I put a bullet in you." Tobias said angrily.

"You have a visitor here who claims that she can help deal with the Red Arrow situation." the lieutenant said as a tall Asian woman walked in.

"You have 60 seconds to tell me who the hell you are before you get filled with lead." Tobias said as he pulled a gun on her.

"Try it and you'll be dead before you can even pull that trigger. And before you even think about calling any of your men, you should know that they've already been neutralized by mine. Whether or not that becomes permanent depends on you." the woman said as Tobias noticed her attire.

"Are you the little Red Riding Hood that's been disrupting my operations?" Tobias asked angrily.

"No, but I am the woman who trained her." the woman said.

"You're not making much of a case for why I should let you live." Tobias said.

"Because she betrayed me. My name is Kazumi Adachi and I am the leader of an organization called the Ninth Circle. The Red Arrow as she calls herself was once my student and my most promising one at that. But then she betrayed me. I can help you kill her and not only truly make this city yours, but help you expand your enterprises, since I know that you seek an audience with the Quadrant." Kazumi said.

"How could you know that?" Tobias asked.

"Because it's my business to know. You have tactics, but you don't have the resources needed to enforce them." Kazumi said.

"And you do?" Tobias asked.

"The Ninth Circle is much older than you'd think. It's been around for centuries and has funded far worse organizations than yours. We have resources all over the globe. In fact, it's because of those resources that I know to do this." Kazumi said as she pulled out a knife and threw it into the throat of the man who'd shown her in.

"What did you just do?" Tobias asked as Kazumi walked over to the newly deceased and pulled a HCPD badge.

"I just removed a rat from your organization. He was a cop trying to bring you down. You clearly need to do a better job of keeping track of who you let get close to you." Kazumi said.

"I'm impressed, but before I agree to anything, I need to know what's in it for you, since I doubt that the Ninth Circle would do something like this out of the kindness of their hearts." Tobias said.

"You're right about that. I want the Red Arrow's head on a platter to mount on my wall, but the Circle prefers to remain anonymous and in the shadows. That's why we fund groups like yours." Kazumi said.

"To avoid drawing attention. You need me to serve as a cover for your vendetta." Tobias said.

"It's a win-win situation and you know it." Kazumi said.

"And I'm on board as long as you agree to help me solidify my rule as the King of Hub City and any expansion plans I might have in the future." Tobias said.

"Then I believe we have a deal." Kazumi said.

"And you know I'm not foolish to just take you at your word. I want it in writing with both our names on it." Tobias said and Kazumi smiled.

"You're smarter than you look. I'll have my people send something over so that the same lawyers you pay to keep you out of prison can go over it." Kazumi said.

"Then we're in business." Tobias said.