Russian Roulette

Chapter 23 : Chemistry

J. Edgar Hoover Building

Arriving at my workplace I slung my backpack over my shoulder and entered the office. I left my apartment as soon as Bruce leaves, distancing myself from him. "Isa, the shipping manifest." my colleague handed me a clipboard. "I've combed through the list but nothing stands out." 

"Thanks Amir." I said. "I'll try to comb through further." Amir nods and leaves my cubicle while I read through the manifest. Amir has highlighted time stamps of the ships bound to leave by night. 

"Oh, and Isa," Amir appeared. "It seems that the container belonging to Wayne Enterprises is leased."

"Leased?" I asked. 

"Yeah, kinda weird." he said. "You know him right?"

"Not really." I said. 

"Right." he said. "Good luck in digging through that." I contemplated Amir's words prior and cross references the details of the account number listed on the manifest. I got a hit : a civilian named Suleiman Abbasid. Why would a civilian with no known links to this company rent a shipping container for the weapons? I thought. Abbasid came from Saudi Arabia, working as a petroleum engineer on an oil rig owned by ExxonMobil, having obtained his American citizenship through naturalization just last week. I didn't believe Abbasid to be related to any terrorist organization but I need to question him. Standing up I headed towards the Assistant Director's office while bringing the manifest. 

"Sir?" I asked, knocking at the door.

"Come in." the man himself said. Opening the door I entered the office and sat down at the chair while Ryan continues his call. "So, anything you found from the manifest?" he asked, putting down the phone. 

"Amir said that the container is leased." I say. "The account that is paying for the lease of the container is a guy called Suleiman Abbasid."

"We don't have much on him, but we know that he's a naturalized American citizen from Saudi Arabia." Ryan told me the same thing I found on Abbasid's information in the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service. "You're suspecting that he is-?"

"I'm not sir." I say. "His profile doesn't convince me."

"You have my permission to investigate him."

"Yes sir, thank you sir." I say. "I would like to go to New York, his known address is there."

"You already have my permission agent."

"Of course sir." I say. 

Times Square, New York

Home Sweet Home. I say to myself upon reaching Times Square. New York has been my real home when I left to attend West Point and it stayed ever since despite the career change. Dressed in a white shirt with a pair of jeans and a black leather jacket I casually strolled down the streets and looked around the stores while keeping an eye on the target's address. Not far from my location stood the Avengers Tower, a symbol of hope for the people but reminds me more of the man leading the team. Several cop cars were parked nearby, all with the words 'NYPD' spray-painted onto it. I wonder how Min is doing with his job, being an inspector in the Major Crimes Unit. I noticed that Bruce has entered my bedroom last night, as I found the rack of my clothes were pushed apart from their original positions, no doubt that he's finding anything for his alter ego to hack into the FBI database to look upon my files. My ID badge is obviously a start, but I'm curious to see what will he do next. I noticed the cops sitting in their car, sipping hot cups of coffee in to-go cups, an advantage for me if anything happens like last time. With my gun hidden in my backpack I have to pay extra caution with it or else my service pistol could end up as weapons for any crime. 

Abbasid lives in New York, but his job normally costs him several months to be there on an oil rig. I sincerely hoped that this time I might be lucky. I hear the familiar sound of a pair of oxfords and I stopped to a halt. "If you want to follow me-" I say while turning. "You should quit wearing oxfords, Bruce." 

"Okay, you got me." said with a smile, Bruce raised his hands in defeat. "I suppose that trying to tail an FBI agent like you is very hard."

"You have been stalking me when I showed up at Wayne Tower." I say, stuffing my hands into the pocket of my jeans. "I guess, my jig, is up."

Starbucks

"You have been avoiding me when I saw you." Bruce said. "I should've known that you have decided to work with the federal government."

"It's not with, it's for." I say, sipping the latte. "I'm already breaking my code of conduct by talking to you."

"Did you really believe me? About the weapons deal?" I lowered my gaze, eyelashes gently batting as I studied him. His voice is distant, unlike the Bruce Wayne I read, or try to avoid reading, in the papers. 

"Bruce, did you even try to understand how does law enforcement works?" I questioned, a sheet of my hair dropping down from my shoulder. I sighed, sliding my cup against the wooden table. "As much as I want to trust you, I can't."

"Why?" he looked at me.

"This is where we are different." I say. "You weren't that careful when it comes to dealing with people. The billionaires I have locked up, they knew the mud they have been buried in." Bruce's colors shifted. "Look, I'm not trying to judge you."

"I don't see it that way." he said, the same distant voice. "I know that you're doing your job."

"How's Alfred?" I say, dipping my chin.

"He's... he's fine." he said. "He'd asked for you to stop by whenever you can."

"I can't." I say. "Let's just say that my work demands a lot of my time."

"You have been a ghost when I last saw you."

"I don't need public judgement on how I spend my life. I did my job as a citizen."

"Being a citizen, means a lot of things."

"You're baiting me." I pointed out. "Information for your friend?" he blinked.

"Which one?" I smiled and sipped the latte again. 

"Another time then." I say, standing up. "Thanks for the coffee."