The Midnight Case

Chapter 10 : Wait, Reagan?

Wayne Manor

Stepping out of Bruce's car I was quite shocked to see the house not changing one bit. When I turned to retrieve my baggage Bruce took it for me but I frowned upon him doing so. "Bruce."

"Your shoulder isn't going to heal soon Isa. I need you to heal and get back in the game." Reluctantly agreeing we stepped up the stairs and he pressed the doorbell.

"You don't have keys?" I asked.

"I have them." He said as someone opened the doors.

"My word Master Bruce, I haven't seen you in days after the trip to London. Ah, I see that you have Dame Mace accompanying you."

"Hello Alfred, it's been a while." I smiled back, tugging at my jacket.

"We're going to need rooms we have guests staying."

"Guests?" He frowned. "Not party-goers?" He asked wryly. A SUV entered past the gates and pulled up at the curb. The doors swung open but I didn't expect to see dad in undercover clothes, however I do know that Katrina, Christian, Camilla and Adrian are coming for this trip. "Ah, I see Sir Christian is coming along."

"Hello, Mr. Pennyworth." Chris greeted. "Shall we enter? Discretion is in order."

"Who's he?" Katrina asked me when she caught up.

"And now you're interested?" Chris scoffed.

"I couldn't care less about you." She said back.

"Right, that's enough." I whispered. "Chris, did you brought mine?"

"I was carrying yours the entire time." He replied, holding up the cane sword. "The carving, remember?"

"Since when did you took a liking to mine? I thought holding Winston Chruchill's was your pride." I teased him as we sat down in the living room.

"Churchill?" I heard Alfred questioning as he serves us tea.

"Sir Christian, is the descendant of Winston Churchill himself." I explained. "My cousins, Katrina Romanova, Camilla Von Accola and Adrian Castellanos."

"Romanova or Romanov Isa?" Katrina asked me. "Is this a pun?"

"Um... no. You know how Eastern Slavic naming customs work."

"Right, our cousin is way too happy in drinking tea."

"Now the million dollar question : why is my dad doing here?"

"I've been looking for you. You missed the lunch session with my grandmother."

"Um... not intentional?"

"Is she that important?" Bruce asked, an eyebrow raising.

"She is. After all, my foster great-grandmother is Nancy Reagan." Hearing this Alfred nearly spilled the tea on the rug, all for of my cousins spits out tea but Adrian and Camilla got the same treatment again similar in the fast-food chain during lunch. "Malaka!" I too cursed as some of the stains was splattered on my shirt.

"Seriously Chris, again?!" Camilla asked, her temper rising again.

"Isa had just cursed. No need to repeat again but face the xiphos." Adrian said angrily.

"Okay, calm down first. I'll explain now." I said. "Dad's father, Robert, is actually the first born child of his father and mother, Ronald and Nancy Reagan. They protected their son very much and asked for a surname change to protect him."

"To avoid the vultures of course. And then when I turned eighteen I knew the whole story and finally reunited with my grandparents." Dad continued the sentence for me. "But that's still not an excuse for you young lady."

"Case is not done yet. The vibranium act the crime bosses are pulling? It's getting more rogue than ever."

"But we have no idea on where to start considering the fact that nothing happened recently." Adrian murmured an answer.

"This is looking bad for the king right now. He is going to address the UN to open up the existence of vibranium to the whole world."

"What?" I recoiled in shock.

"Unfortunately, he decided to put you in charge as the liaison between the United States and Wakanda."

"Great, double trouble." I cursed, but this time in Ancient Greek. Adrian laughed in respond and laid back, glancing at me with an amusing look.

"Does this look funny to you?" I asked. "Look, it's not funny. This is like my tenth case involving vibranium and I can't catch a breath because of this. And please don't get me started about my birthday celebrations, we don't have time."

"Ten?!" The four of them exclaimed. "You said two."

"I lied, maybe it's my duty to lie about this. You have find balance in keeping this a S.H.I.E.L.D. knowledge and prevent panic."

"Isa, don't put all of this on yourself." Bruce said, holding my hand in his. "I'm here for you."

"I know, it's not an easy case." I said. "I don't have any leads now. That's the frustrating part."

"I might have. Adam phoned me last night, says that he has a lead. He wants to meet us both, tonight, at Gotham State Park."

"Adam, thanks." I muttered. "Maybe, I too have something." Taking out my tablet I placed it on the table and a holographic projection appeared. "During my eighth case, a black op, don't ask, I have found something. While operating in Cuba I found another crate of vibranium, of Cuban origin."

"Isn't that the black op I sent you last year?" Dad asked me and I nodded. 

"After some tests I have calculated a possibility of a hybrid. But this gang war... made me realize something." They all listened patiently, waiting for the million dollar answer. "This kind is obtained from the dealer. Not a possibility in creating a hybrid."

"Wait, you're saying that we're dealing with a gang that has primitive vibranium?" Dad recoiled in shock. 

"Not for sure. A crate of Cuban vibranium is arriving soon tonight, maybe a new lead."

"You have been keeping tabs?" Bruce then questioned. "Adam told me the same thing."

"Awkward." Christian said.

"You're not helping. Everyone, except you dad, gather your gear and meet us at Gotham Harbor." I gave the order. "If you really want to keep tabs dad, contact Chan."