Russian Roulette

Chapter 24 : Murky lines

Leaving the cafe I continued my way down the streets lined with snow. Bruce said that I have been a ghost since we last met, and I can almost say the same to him. With that encounter, I can confirm that Bruce Wayne and the masked-vigilante known as the mysterious Batman, are one and the same. I knew he would start to follow me again, but I won't let him. The violent roar of a vehicle was heard from behind and when I turned, it was a sedan. The vehicle barreled towards my direction, prompting me to jump up to avoid the collision. The driver fired an unsilenced weapon, in the form of an MP5 submachine gun in my direction when I jumped. I avoid a few but I got hit, the violent force propelling me backward, hitting hard against the windshield of a nearby vehicle and landing on the snowy asphalt. People screamed and ran while the NYPD jumped into position, chucking their coffee cups aside and brandishing their weapons. 

The sedan pulled to a halt and two men looked out, firing their submachine guns at the police officers. "NYPD! Drop your weapons!" one of the officers managed to shout through a loudspeaker. "Injured civilian in proximity!" the same one shouted.

Managing to free my backpack, which was still strapped to my back after the violent fall, I unzipped it and took out my handgun, firing at the gunmen's direction. Blood stained my shirt red when I unzipped my jacket with one hand to reach for my FBI badge and an extra magazine in case I ran out of bullets. The man on the left is greeted with a headshot, killing him while the right is shot in the arm, prompting him to fall back. The cops surrounded the vehicle while two of them promptly approached. "You okay miss?" one of them asked.

"It's not okay, she's a fed." the second officer said, kneeling to access my wounds. "Are those terrorists?"

"I don't know officer, but I'm sure that they're trying to kill me." I replied.

"Here, put some pressure on that." a handkerchief appeared. "I need medical evac, Times Square." he said into his radio. 

"FBI?" the first officer frowned upon seeing my badge. Paramedics soon arrived, them putting me on a stretcher and rushing me to the hospital. 

Hours later

Exiting the hospital I hailed a cab, dialing Assistant Director Carey in the process. "Was it you at Times Square?" the man himself asked as soon as he picked up.

"Yes, it is." 

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine sir. I was shot."

"Go to J. Edgar Hoover, we need to have a talk."

"Okay." 

Washington DC

Entering the FBI headquarters I found my superior waiting at the elevator lobby after I passed the security checks. "Sir." I say, stopping in front of him. 

"I'm glad that you're not seriously hurt." he said. 

"They're all carrying MP5s, riding in a black sedan." I reported. "They ambushed me when I was on my way to find Abbasid."

"I couldn't help but to-" he stopped short. "Let's continue this conversation somewhere safe." I nodded and we headed to his office to talk. "I couldn't help but to contemplate whether that Suleiman is just a man with his identity misued by terrorists or he is one himself." he said once he entered his office. 

"Not all people are what they say to be." I say. "I will try to follow up the source, sir."

"Damn it all for your partner to leave this mission to you to solve it on your own."

"Ryan, it's fine." I insisted. "It's been months since we detained the cargo, the men could be linked to the buyer, or buyers."

"Good point." Ryan said. "We didn't go public with the info."

"And the buyer has found out that FBI is onto them." 

"And because of that Isa, you've got to be more careful."

"Ryan, I-"

"I know, you interacted with the main suspect. Not mean to pry but surveillance caught the both of you entering a Starbucks joint."

"Bruce has been, acting strange." I say. "We might be friends when we were young, but when we see each other again, we're like strangers to one another."

"I can see that you already know who the Batman is, but you won't tell me."

"Sir, I-"

"It's fine. I grant you the permission to keep your findings, but you have to remember, Harkavy and Eckhart are the ones calling the shots."

"Sir, the problem is, the Batman operates outside the law. The local police seemed to be helping him as well."

"And here's why the both of you differ. He's outside the law while you are within."

"He asked whether I trust him or not."

"That's an interesting question." Ryan said. "But it's your decision."

"Yeah." I replied, dipping my head low. 

"How's the Russian case going?"

"About that..." I say. "My source contacted me again last night."

"And?"

"Sergei Volodin is safe with my contact. It appears that he's isn't in Russia anymore."

"Better." Ryan said. "When will he call you again?"

"I don't know."

"I have his immigration records." Ryan showed me his computer on his desk. "It says here that he won't be home until next week."

"Okay." I say.

New York

Stopping my motorcycle in front of an apartment building I removed my helmet and got off my bike, slinging a backpack over my shoulder. I approached the superintendent of the building just as someone walked past me. "Hello, how can I help you?" he asked me. Looking around to ensure that no curious personnel is lurking around I opened my backpack and showed him my badge. 

"I'm Senior Special Agent Black Bird from the FBI Counterintelligence Division." I introduced myself. "I need to talk to one of your tenants living here, a Mr. Suleiman Abbasid."

"He's not around officer. Perhaps you would like to come back for another day?"

"I have a search warrant." I say. "I have it here." I showed him the warrant and the superintendent nodded, taking a set of keys and leading me to the suspect's apartment through riding the elevator. 

"What did he do to attract the attention of federal agents?"

"It's confidential sir. But I'm not here to arrest him."

"Hmph." the superintendent said. "I'll stay nearby in case of trouble officer." he handed me the keys and I unlocked the door. Upon entering I looked around, scanning for any pieces of important evidence. I found a laptop in his personal study but when I placed it into my backpack a nearby tablet beeped and a countdown timer started. Cursing inward I whirled and ran as fast as I can. The unit exploded in a fiery ball after I managed to jump out from the apartment, destroying the apartment upon the explosion.