บท 16: Chapter 16: Shadows of Suspicion.
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My intervention elicited mixed reactions from Oliver and Diggle. Both seemed impressed that I had deduced Felicity's secret, but there was a lingering doubt about whether I would keep it confidential. Felicity made a jest, comparing me to a modern-day Sherlock Holmes with an uncanny ability to deduce the smallest details. Yet, Oliver's disapproval was palpable, his deep frown revealing his discomfort with my methods.
"What case did you say you were working on again?" Oliver asked, his suspicion evident.
I sighed, "I've already told you, Mr. Queen, I can't discuss an ongoing police investigation with you."
"Isn't it odd that a CCPD employee is conducting an investigation in Star City?" Oliver pressed.
"Are you sure this isn't just a bit of jealousy?" I inquired.
Oliver let out a dry, humorless laugh. "I'm not jealous."
"Then why the open suspicion?" I challenged.
"Maybe it's because your police captain isn't even aware you're here," Oliver replied.
"Well, you caught me," I admitted, not even trying to deny it.
"Why are you here?" Oliver growled.
"I've been chasing the impossible ever since I lost someone who shouldn't have been lost," I began. "Someone I cared about deeply."
Oliver's tone softened. "Who was it?"
"Someone I loved very much," I said, my voice laced with pain.
Seeing the distress in my voice, Oliver chose not to press further. "I won't ask any more about it, but please, don't manipulate people like that again."
"I'll try to avoid it, but no promises," I said. If Oliver knew the stakes, he might not question my methods so much.
As the events unfolded like episodes 8 and 9, John and Felicity enlisted my help to save Oliver from an overdose.
"Don't worry; I have just the thing to wake him up," I said, retrieving a vial from my CSI kit and preparing the syringe.
"What is that?" Felicity asked.
"It's what you need to save Oliver's life," I stated, explaining that the solution would stimulate his brain and unfreeze his blood.
I injected the serum into Oliver. "You might want to stand back; chances are—"
Before I could finish, Oliver's hand was around my throat. John and Felicity rushed to intervene.
"Is this your way of saying thank you?" I choked out, struggling for breath.
"What are you doing here?" Oliver demanded.
"Oh, I don't know—saving your life, for starters," I retorted.
"Felicity, you brought him here?" Oliver asked, turning his anger towards her.
"What was I supposed to do, let you die?" Felicity shot back.
"He knows my secret, Felicity," Oliver said, anger rising.
"What, are you going to put an arrow in him?" Felicity challenged.
"I'm considering it," Oliver growled.
"I'm not bothered that you're acting like I'm invisible. It's totally cool," I said sarcastically.
Oliver sighed in frustration. "Do you always act like this around people?"
"Sorry, my friends say my dry humor can be off-putting," I explained. Joe and Iris have voiced similar concerns before.
"Look, Barry, is it?" Oliver asked.
I nodded.
"You can't tell anyone I'm the Arrow," Oliver demanded.
"Don't worry, I won't. Some people might think you're just another criminal, but I see you as a hero," I assured him.
"Good, because if you do reveal my secret, I'll hunt you down and put an arrow in you," Oliver threatened.
"If you don't mind me asking, how did you end up in that state earlier?" I asked, shifting the topic.
Oliver hesitated.
"Look, you don't have to tell me, but I want to help. I can't do that if you don't give me any information," I said diplomatically.
"When I was on an island, I discovered an old Japanese banker's super-soldier serum called Mirakuru. I thought it was all destroyed until I encountered a man injected with it, giving him enhanced strength, speed, agility, and healing," Oliver explained.
"Is it possible someone replicated the serum?" I asked.
"Impossible. Everyone injected with it is dead," Oliver said confidently.
"But this man you encountered suggests otherwise," I pointed out.
"Yes, I need to stop him," Oliver said resolutely.
"Whoa, he nearly killed you," Felicity argued.
"Felicity, I'm the only one with experience dealing with these kinds of threats. If the police go after him, they'll die," Oliver retorted.
As Oliver and Felicity argued, I stood with my arms crossed, deep in thought.
"What's on your mind?" Diggle asked, noticing my contemplative state.
"I think I know who's behind this," I said.
Oliver stopped his argument with Felicity and turned to me. "Who?"
"Sebastian Blood," I replied.
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