Ace watched the entire exchange unfold. The vigilantes were attempting to work with the police… Jack wasn’t going to be too crazy about that at all…
He tapped his watch and dialed Jack's number. It rang three times and he picked up.
“What's the word my good sir?” asked Jack in a forcedly chipper tone.
“The cats and dogs are trying to play nice with each other,” Ace responded coolly.
There was a long pause.
“You don't say?”
“I do. And they're likely going to be moving up shortly.”
Jack laughed.
“Then why don't we send them a more formal invitation to the table?” he suggested.
“Between the two of us and the lamp post, it would only be a matter of time before they'd find us anyway.”
Ace stared blankly across the street at the comment.
“How so?” he asked.
“That's not important,” Jack said.
“Besides, I want to relieve ourselves of this mess sooner rather than later… not that I'll ever be able to go to the Brewer’s Cafe ever again at this rate…”
“What's wrong with our in-house coffee?” Ace asked.
“It's made for the people rich enough to lose it all and too dumb to know when to stop," Jack said with a hint of disgust.
“Which boils down to a lack of quality with a higher price tag.”
Ace sighed.
“If I solve that problem for you will you stop worrying so much about the cafe?”
“I mean, we could add free coffee to the ransom note…” Jack suggested jokingly.
Ace watched as the vigilantes and the police parted ways, the former two using grappling equipment to leave the rooftop the way they entered.
“I have to go, they're on the move,” Ace said.
“I'll get back in touch when I've passed the invite along.”
With that, he ended the call and picked up his gear. He hadn't bothered unpacking anything besides the high-end scope he had used to watch the area. He collapsed the hardware, returned it to its case, and then shouldered his equipment with practiced ease.
Things could go one of two ways and he listed them in his head…
“One: they join forces, track us down, and Jack drags us into another ‘artful’ escape. Best-case scenario, we’re back to square one. Worst case, we're out of the game entirely.”
He made his way down a partly obscured fire escape.
“Two: their alliance collapses under the weight of their egos. The cops blame the vigilantes, the vigilantes blame the cops, and we use the chaos to clean up and disappear.”
He cautiously scanned the area, then headed down the alley.
“Alternatively, these things just pan out like any other ransom is intended and we get that much closer to being debt free…”
That final option wasn't as likely to happen, but he couldn't help but list it.
There was a conspicuous hiss behind him in the alley. He turned around just in time to see one of the vigilantes land in the middle of the path. The vigilante casually holstered the grapple device he had used and marched toward Ace, clearly not attempting to hide.
“I suppose this saves me from trying to find you…” Ace said coolly.
“Because you didn't have the opportunity while you watched us talk to the police?” asked the Vigilante.
“Irrelevant,” Ace said.
“Do you have a name or do you just go with ‘purple armored guy’?”
“You can call me Alias. Where is the girl?” demanded Adam.
“She is safe,” Ace noted.
“That's all I can tell you for now.”
Adam took a step forward, tensing up.
“WHERE IS SHE?”
Ace put a hand to his holstered sidearm but didn't draw.
“Wait. I'm supposed to give you a message.”
Adam paused but didn't relax.
“Talk fast before I make you talk.”
“You are invited to our high rollers table to negotiate,” Ace said.
“When?” Adam demanded.
“Midnight tomorrow at House 21. I understand there are four of you, including the officers you spoke with?” Ace asked.
“Technically yes…”
“Then it will be an even match,” Ace stated.
“The ransom is still expected but is going to be part of the bargain.”
He took several cautious steps backward, making a point not to turn his back to the vigilante.
“And don’t worry, you can come with your concealed identities, but you will have any potential weapons removed,” Ace added.
“So I would advise you all travel light.”
He held up his hands to show he wasn't reaching for anything and that they were empty, then flicked his right-hand wrist which produced a playing card.
“Consider this your entry pass,” he said.
“Use it to be escorted to where you need to go.”
He casually dropped the card, then promptly left the alleyway. Adam watched him leave before picking up the card. He examined the back and noticed a small chip embedded in the center of the design. He flipped it over to reveal a black background and the Four of Diamonds.
“Alias to Shield,” he called after activating his comms.
“I may have found our way in.”
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