3.
Laurel was getting suspicious. Her client was the third this week to withdraw his complaint against Robert Daggett.
« Why would you do that, Kevin ? We have a strong case, and we have several other cases against him ! »
The man looked terrified.
« Just leave it be ! My reasons are my own. »
Laurel came closer to her client and whispered.
« What happened ? »
Kevin became very pale.
« My wife and my boy are missing. They say they'll be returned to me only if I drop my complaint and the case is dismissed. »
He left without another word, leaving Laurel speculating. From the bottom of her bag, she retrieved a little black phone and headed for the women's bathroom. The voice on the other end sounded deep.
« Yes ? »
« There is a class action lawsuit against Robert Daggett but three of the plaintiffs are dropping their complaints. The last one, Kevin Dillon, told me his wife and son have been kidnapped. Maybe the others have been threatened too. »
There was a silence.
« Give me their names. »
Laurel complied and heard someone coming in. Her voice dropped.
« You have to help. Please. »
She hoped that once again the Vigilante would come to the rescue.
*****
Oliver closed his phone and came to see Felicity who was in front of the computers. He rapidly got the addresses he needed and decided to drop by to see if he could find a clue. He took Diggle as spotter. But as he expected the apartments were empty. On the last place he visited, he opened the window to check the fire escape. And right there, a small piece of fabric was caught between a step and a railing. He went to the kitchen, found a plastic bag and retrieved it delicately without touching it. He brought it back to the car and took his phone. Diggle looked at him from the driver's seat.
« What's that ? »
« A clue. And I know just the right person to help us with that. »
*****
A week after Oliver's visit, his scent had dissipated from her apartment. Nola was happy her life was back on tracks, but she couldn't help missing the rainforest in her living room.
She was still embarrassed by the way she had flirted with Oliver. « Make my bed smell like the rainforest. » Really ? She was probably the only woman in Starling City that was turned on by smells and not touch. He hadn't called or texted, so she assumed he didn't need her in his life.
Valerio had come into her office the day before, with the first sales numbers for White Sun and he was so happy he had given her a huge bonus. This man was going to make her rich. Or at least give her enough money to retire early.
She had started to work on recreating Oliver's scent in her lab, a pet project nobody knew about code named « Jungle ». If anyone was to stumble upon it, they would assume she was creating a new fragrance. Not trying to mimic the scent of the man she had the hots for. She had started with the base note : raw iron. Simple enough. The heart notes were harder to select. She wanted plant, and green, but she had hundreds of samples to test before selecting just a few. The head notes would be the harder to get. Especially since she was working from memory. And suddenly the rainforest was everywhere.
She whipped around and he was standing ten feet from her. She blushed, feeling like a schoolgirl caught daydreaming about her crush. Normal people usually take a deep breath to calm their nerves. But in Nola's case, it had the opposite effect. If she breathed too deeply, she would get more nervous and aroused. She took the time to put the cap back on her sample, and close her notebook, and it was enough to get back her composure.
« Good evening Oliver. »
« Hi Nola. This is Diggle. Dig, this is Nola. »
Dig looked like a man who could take on an army by himself, and he smelled of steel and... pears. Weird combination...
« What can I do for you ? »
« Do you want to have dinner with me ? I need your help with... a scent. »
He was looking at her with intensity and she guessed it was not Oliver who needed her help, but his alter ego the Vigilante.
« Yes, of course. »
Back in the car, Nola was wondering if Diggle knew about his secret when Oliver got to the heart of the subject.
« If I give you an item, can you follow the trail ? »
« You mean like a sniffer dog ? »
Oliver looked uncomfortable.
« I did not see it like that. »
« You remember McKenna Hall ? She was in class with us. »
« Yes, McKenna. »
« We were in contact when I was in college. And I wanted to know what was the extent of my... gift. So I gave her a call and I competed against the best dogs of Starling PD. »
« Really ? And what were the results ? »
« I'm close to their level, slower, but better in trace detection, though we didn't try drugs. And since I'm human, I can analyse what I smell, not just follow my nose. »
Oliver and Diggle exchanged a look through the rearview mirror.
« Can you work first and have dinner later ? »
« Yes. But there's a problem. I can't walk for very long. My foot is still hurting. »
« Could you follow the scent from the car ? »
« Depends on where it's going. »
« Listen, you do what you can and I'll take it from there, okay ? »
« Okay. »
They soon arrived in front of the building where Oliver had found the piece of fabric. He thought a second about going directly to the fire escape in the alley, but a glance at Nola's foot in a cast made him head for the front door.
Nola sighed heavily when she didn't spot any elevator in the hall, and hopped on the first steps with her canes. Oliver picked her up and climbed the four flights carrying her. Nola laughed.
« I don't know if I should feel offended or get used to it ! »
They exchanged a deep look and once again she felt the spark of desire. Diggle, who was following with her canes, shook his head in disbelief.
Inside the apartment, Oliver explained the situation to Nola and gave her the plastic bag.
« Next time, double bag the evidence. »
She closed her eyes and took a whiff.
« Gentlemen, can I ask you to wait outside ? I need a minute on my own. »
Oliver turned to leave but Dig wouldn't move. He was curious about what Oliver had said about Nola's abilities.
« She knows what she's doing. Come on. »
« Please, Mister Summer-pear. »
Diggle didn't understand.
« You smell of pear in the summer, sweet and ripe, with a core of bulletproof steel. Now, out. »
Still laughing, Oliver pulled him by the arm and closed the door behind them. Dig looked offended. He was muttering under his breath about he didn't, couldn't smell of pears.
Once she was alone, Nola looked around. She was uneasy about snooping around when the owners weren't there. But she wanted to help. So she went through the drawers, familiarizing herself with the odors of this family. Citrus, orange and tiare flowers. She went back into the living room and opened the bag again. The smell of the fabric was like dust, soft grey. She limped to the window and followed the scent outside. Damn, she was going to have to step out on the fire escape. She yelled to the men to come in.
« Can you help me out ? I have to know if the scent is going up or down. »
« People usually go down. »
« The neighbouring building is very close, so they may have come up on the roof, on to the next building and down the stairs on the other street. »
Oliver and Diggle looked at each other.
« Told you she's smart. »
Once outside, she hopped to the stairs going down, then going up, closing her eyes each time to inhale deeply. She climbed up two stairs.
« Yep, they went that way. I can follow their scent, it's fresh enough. »
« Nola, get back down here, we'll get on the ground and get around the block. »
« No, I have to follow the trail. »
She clenched her teeth, dropped her canes and held the railings to hop the stairs.
« Nola... »
« Oliver, I know what it's like to be scared, and hurt. I have to help them. »
Oliver climbed up behind her, put his arm around her waist and helped her up. Three flights of stairs and they were on the roof. Nola was out of breath, on the verge of tears. She sat on the ledge, not even aware of the sun setting on the horizon.
« How bad is it ? »
« Very bad. Some bones have been shattered, ligaments and tendons severed. I'm hardly walking. I've had four surgeries so far and it's still not very good. »
« Want me to carry you ? »
« No, I'll walk with my canes. This way. »
Nola led them across the roof to the next building.
« No way I'm making that jump. I guess I have to go down and back up again. »
Oliver and Diggle exchanged a look. She was obviously tired and in pain.
« I'll take it from here. »
« And I'll take you back to the ground. »
« Thanks. We can meet up in front of this building, so I can continue to follow the trail. »
« Only if you're up for it. »
« Give me a wheelchair and I can follow a scent to hell and back. »
« Hoo-rah ! »
They separated, Oliver jumping over the alley to the next building, Diggle helping Nola with the stairs.
« So, pear ? »
Nola had to laugh at the hurt tone in Diggle's voice.
« Yes, but with a base note of steel and a head note of amber. Sweet, but masculine enough, don't worry. »
They met in front of the main door. But Nola was worried.
« Their scent is not here. Not the mom, the kid or the bad guys. Either they went through the alley door, or... »
« … They're still inside. »
« Yes. Dig, get Nola back to the car. »
« No ! I can tell you where they are. After that you can take me to dinner. »
Thankful for the elevator, Nola smelled each floor thoroughly until she got to a door on the fifth floor.
« They're here. »
« All right. Diggle, you stay here in watch while I go back to the car with Nola and grab my gear. »
They separated. Once she was safely in the car, Oliver ran back to where the kidnappers held their hostages.
« I'll be coming from outside, you take the main door. »
The well coordinated attack lasted only a few seconds. Two men were down with arrows protruding from their bodies, a third whimpering in pain with a bullet in his shoulder. The fourth had crossed his hands over his head in surrender. Oliver and Diggle severed the ties of all the victims and left without another word. They were back in the car less than fifteen minutes after they left Nola.
« You did an amazing job, Nola. Without you, I doubt we'd have found them. »
« You'd have found another way. Now, dinner ? »
« Give me five minutes to clean up and I'm all yours. »
« Deal. Will you join us, Diggle ? »
« No, I have plans of my own. Think you can drive yourself, Sir ? »
« I'll manage. »
They exchanged a friendly smile.
