Fan Fiction: Crossovers
Why Wasn't I There?
Part 4 (cont.)
"The Sanctum." Commanded Stephen.
The cab pulled out into traffic as Peter shoved his Spider-Man mask into his bag. "So," he asked. "How long do you think it will take him to realize that we just broke a window to get in?"
"They'll find it in tomorrow's Security review."
The men shared an evil chuckle.
"I think we should have gotten more info on the Sacred Sword." Said Peter. "Or at least on Tular."
Stephen held up a small box.
"What's that?" asked Peter.
"An electronic laser recorder. Point it at the screen of a computer and it'll record everything that it shows."
Peter burst out laughing again. "So we have his files on terrorist cells?"
"All the ones he accessed just now."
The men shared another evil chuckle.
"The Sacred Sword." Murmured Stephen after a long silent moment.
Nobody spoke again as they passed Ground Zero, and were slowly dragged back to reality.
"The Sacred Sword." Announced Stephen. The men were back in the Sanctum, and the screen showed what little information kingpin had unwittingly given them. "Based in America, an extremist movement, targets Americans, hit whatever they think they can get away with."
Peter was looking over a list of their attacks. "Most of this stuff is hit-and-run. At best they make it look like an accident. They like being subtle."
"Recent events may convince them to be more adventurous."
"Well," Peter theorized. "They go for the ideological attacks. When they want a decision made, they don't attack the decider, they just make it clear that he's vulnerable. They play mind games, strike at the heart."
"I shudder to think what they would plan on a big scale." Whispered Stephen. Then he was all business again. "So. How do we track them down?"
"Well, as you once told me: Follow the money!"
Stephen nodded and scrolled down the screen to the relevant information. "Huh. They filter cash through a dozen black market dealers and mob accounts."
Peter thought briefly. "We might have an idea about what they're planning by what they're buying."
"And I know just the man to ask about black market deals." Stephen had a black look in his eyes, and a sadistic grin on his face. "Stay here!" the Shadow's voice commanded as he headed up the stairs.
"Say hello to Max for me!" Peter called after him. "Don't hurt him too bad."
The Shadow's mocking laugh answered him.
Max's specialty was black market accounts, and he knew where every dollar went, despite the fact that he worked out of a pawnshop in a bad neighborhood. Nobody outside his clients knew what he did on the side. Nobody that is, except The Shadow.
Max entered his store from the small bathroom, to find The Shadow looking at his merchandise. Max's terrified gasp alerted him. The Shadow's hand flashed beneath his cloak, and it emerged with an immense automatic.
"Max." greeted The Shadow. "Listen up, we are low on time."
Max could hear the difference in The Shadow's voice. The Shadow was angry, dark and vicious, even for him. "W-well…" he stammered.
The Shadow pointed the gun and fired a shot at Max. The terrified man felt the bullet whistle past his ear, over the immense roar in the confined space. "Max, listen, the way the dance usually goes is like this: I mock you, you feign innocence, I laugh in your face, you try to back away, I demand information, you tell me what I want to know. Let's skip the routine and come to the point. Because I've been having a very bad week and I'm in a really bad mood. You follow?"
Max nodded wildly.
"The Sacred Sword. They work accounts through Mobs. Mobs work money through you. Need I say more?"
"Well," Max was ready to talk. "That's tricky. They don't have to say which is for their organizations and which is for the Sacred Sword."
"But I know you Max! You'd figure it out, and you'd keep it on record somewhere."
Max thought for a moment. "Is this about the attack?"
The Shadow nodded slowly.
Max went over to a filing cabinet, and pulled out a thin file. "Here is everything. Go get them."
The Shadow smiled. This had made everyone work together. Including the criminals and superheroes.
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