Arrowheart

Chapter Fourteen

Hannah and I spent time with Moira and Thea the next day separately. Oliver disappeared yet again. He's been trying to help Thea, but she isn't letting him. We decided to spend the night with them, and Oliver never came home for some reason. I'm very worried about him, but I have managed to distract Hannah with Moira's help.

Hannah is having a tea party upstairs with Thea while Moira and I are trying to relax in the living room with our tea.

Moira: "Where could he have gone?"

Elizabeth: "He was probably just working last night. I'm sure he'll be back any minute."

Even though I want to believe the words coming out of my mouth, it reassures neither of us. We are too worried after hearing nothing from Oliver or Mr. Diggle. One of the maids comes in with Detective Lance and McKenna Hall in tow.

Maid: "Ma'am, Detective Lance needs to speak with you."

Moira: "Thank you."

She nods and leaves as Lance and McKenna come closer.

Elizabeth: "McKenna, it's been a while. How have you been?"

I get up and hug her.

McKenna: "I've been pretty good, but unfortunately, I didn't come here with good news. I'm on the job right now."

Elizabeth: "Oh right, you're a vice cop now. Any news on the vertigo case?"

McKenna: "I wish it were good news, but I need to speak with Oliver."

Moira: "He's not home yet, but you are more than welcome to stay till he arrives."

McKenna: "Thank you."

Moira gestures to the couch where McKenna sits with Lance across from me.

Moira: "What is it you need to speak with Oliver about?"

Lance: "A raid occurred last night, and we have a witness putting Oliver at the scene."

Elizabeth: "Are you sure it was him?"

Before McKenna can answer, Oliver finally comes in with Mr. Diggle right behind him. Upon seeing the detective before us, Oliver looks worried as Lance stands up.

Oliver: "What's wrong? Is everything okay with Thea?"

Lance: "This isn't about your sister. This is about you."

Oliver looks exasperated as Lance continues.

Lance: "Last night, we got a call from a CI. Busted up a drug sale between a big-time dealer and a Russian mob."

Oliver: "We? [Looks at McKenna] I thought you worked vice."

McKenna: "Joint task force. Vertigo's got everybody holding hands."

Lance: "Like I said last night, a drug deal gone south. An eyewitness put you at the scene."

Oliver: "Whoever he is, he's mistaken."

Lance: "Yeah?"

McKenna: "I saw you, Oliver."

Moira: "Is this true?"

Oliver: "I was checking into The Count. He's the guy who sold drugs to Thea, and I figured if I could find out what he looked like, I could give your sketch artist something to go on. So I paid a lowlife with a Russian accent an obscene amount of money to arrange a meeting."

McKenna: "And did you get eyes on him?"

Oliver: "No."

I subconsciously hold my breath while trying to stay calm. I can understand why he did it, but what if he had died last night in that attempt?

Moira: "Alright, are-are you pressing charges against my son?"

Lance lets out a huff.

Lance: "Get involved in this again, you'll see the inside of a cell, and unlike last time, you will not see the way out."

Lance starts to walk away, but Oliver stops him while McKenna stands up and shakes Moira's hand.

McKenna: "Thank you for your help."

Moira: "Well, thank you for not arresting him."

Elizabeth: "I hope the next time we see each other won't be with you on the job."

McKenna: "I hope so too. How is Hannah, by the way?"

Elizabeth: "She's doing well."

Once McKenna and Lance leave the room, Moira is out of her seat, scolding Oliver.

Moira: "What on earth were you thinking?"

Oliver: "I was trying to help."

Moira: "By running around with the Russian mob and a murderous drug dealer? Are you out of your mind?"

Oliver: "Mom, look, look, the real reason that you're upset is because I told Thea the truth about Dad."

Moira: "She never needed to know that."

I honestly have no idea what they are talking about. I thought Thea was mad at Moira because she thought Moira was cheating on Walter.

Thea: "Yes, I did.[Thea walks into the room, surprising all of us] I'm old enough to know the truth, Mom."

Oliver: "Mom."

She approaches Thea.

Moira: "It wasn't about your age. It was about preserving your memory of your father. He loved you. No matter his faults, he loved you."

Thea: "I said that I wished you had died instead of him, but you still didn't say anything. Why?"

Moira: "One day, I hope you're lucky enough to have a daughter... and you'll know why."

I feel Oliver's hand on my shoulder as I watch Thea hug Moira while crying.

Thea: "I'm so sorry for what I said."

Moira: "I know, I know."

Oliver: "I am not looking forward to those days with Hannah."

Elizabeth: "Yeah, let's give them some privacy."

We walk out of the room. I start up the stairs, but Oliver stops at the bottom with Mr. Diggle.

Elizabeth: "Ollie, are you coming?"

Oliver: "Yeah, I just need to take care of some stuff."

I give him a look.

Oliver: "It's work, I promise."

Elizabeth: "Fine."

Oliver: "You're the best, you know that?"

He comes up to me and kisses my cheek before leaving.

It's been a week since The Count, aka the guy making the Vertigo, was arrested, and Thea got off on a plea deal; she is now working with Laurel. I still ignore my father, who keeps trying to get me to talk to him but hasn't apologized. As for me, I struggled with letting Hannah go into her first day of daycare without me today. I know it's only an elevator ride away, but I'm having some separation anxiety. Stephanie joined me and helped me walk away from the door, so I wouldn't start crying in front of everyone.

Laurel called me, saying she needed to see me after something happened between Tommy and her father. Stephanie agreed to watch Hannah for me while I went to Laurel's. I knock on the door, and she answers it, looking worried and anxious.

Laurel: "Lizzy, thanks for coming over on such short notice."

Elizabeth: "No problem. What happened?"

I come in and follow her to the couch.

Laurel: "So Tommy and I were supposed to go taste testing with a bunch of chefs for the club."

Elizabeth: "Sounds like an episode of The Bachelor."

Laurel: "That's what I said when he asked me."

I manage to get a smile from her before she continues.

Laurel: "Anyway, I got a call from...a work contact-"

Elizabeth: "You hesitated. Who called you?"

Laurel: "It was the vigilante. Before you say anything, I know he's killed people before, but he's helped me on a few cases in the past."

I sigh, realizing what the problem she's getting to is.

Elizabeth: "It's alright, Laurel. Continue."

Laurel: "He had evidence for me for a case I am currently working on, and I went to meet with him. Unfortunately, it was when Tommy and I were supposed to have the chef's tasting. My father had an army of men pointing guns in my face, using me as bait to get to the vigilante. When I tried to talk to Tommy about it, he got mad at me for working with the vigilante and left. My father also took the phone I used to contact the vigilante."

She's in tears as she finishes. I give her a knowing, sad smile as I try to comfort her.

Elizabeth: "Laurel, I know how hard this must be. Tommy will get over this, but I think his issue is that you could've gotten seriously hurt doing this. I don't know how I can help in this situation other than telling you I can understand why you would work with the vigilante."

She holds her breath while looking stunned at me.

Laurel: "You do?"

Elizabeth: "Of course. A few months ago, right before Oliver found out about Hannah, the vigilante saved Tommy, Oliver, and me from some kidnappers. Who knows what would've happened if he hadn't? For all I know, all three of us could've died that day without the vigilante. Around Christmas, he saved a bunch of hostages from a dangerous archer who would've killed them. From what I've seen on the news, the only people the vigilante has really been going after have been some horrible people. I believe what you are doing is actually right, Laurel. The vigilante is a hero, in my opinion."

She smiles and hugs me almost instantly.

Laurel: "Thank you for understanding, Liz. I'm so happy you understand where I'm coming from."

Elizabeth: "Of course. You can always talk to me. Tommy will come around eventually."

As we separate from our hug, her doorbell rings, so she gets up to answer it.

Laurel: "Tommy, I was just talking about you-Ahh!"

I jump up and run over at the sound of her scream as a couple of grunts sound out. She tries to fend off two men and I jump in to help. I take the flashlight out of my purse and hit one of them in the head, knocking him to the ground and allowing Laurel to run to her bedroom. I swing my flashlight at the other guy, but he catches my wrist and pushes me into a table. He goes after Laurel as the other guy gets up and rushes toward me. I land a blow to his arm, making him recoil as I kick his leg out from under him. He crumbles to his knees, and I hit him in the head, knocking him out.

I see Cyrus Vanch tase Laurel, and her body crumple to the ground.

Vanch: "I love women who can take care of themselves."

He cockily saunters toward me. I swing my flashlight toward him. He grabs the flashlight with one hand and hits my neck with his taser with the other, making me fall to the ground and lose consciousness.