Chương 6: PI days
Location: Los Angeles
Date: May 12 2008
I spent the rest of my day in a jacuzzi, drinking wine and watching Friends, letting it all go. No more thinking about the Red Room, SHIELD or even the future. Just me, wine, bubbling hot water and silly jokes.
The next morning I woke up well rested. I felt content in a way that I hadn't felt for forever and a day. I don't remember what I dreamed about, but I didn't sleep like that for a long time. Peaceful dreams completely eluded me since the Snap. I vaguely remember having them before that, but even then, it was a rare case.
I avoided watching the news that caught up on the boiling political and international scandal. Every country was putting pressure on the Russian Federation. I know for sure that most of them had their own, highly secret, programs that were borderline inhuman or close enough to make every human rights activist scream murder. It was just the Russian Federation that got caught with its pants down.
Case in point, the Red Room became the top news of the week and I was not ready to see any familiar faces of (deceased or killed by me) girls. I need to leave it all behind. I need a distraction.
So I dove into writing down everything that I remember from my future past and that was a lot of writing to be done. Except for morning exercises, I was mostly in the office during the day, just doing that.
It was hard to pinpoint the exact day, sometimes even month for specific events. I thought I was good with memories, but for me, it was like fifteen years ago. Yes, I remember what happened and in what kind of order, but memories are not labelled by days, months or even years.
It is crucial in many ways, to be accurate. It's our advantage that needs to be utilized properly and my inability to do just that was driving me crazy.
🕷
On the fifth day, after I came back from New York, I received a request to investigate a client's husband - she suspected him of cheating. I decided to take it, it should be as good as any distraction.
That's how I found myself the next day shadowing this rich guy and making notes on him. In the end, it took me three days to catch him with his pants down. I was able to take photos from a nearby building right through the window, where he was pretending to be a sex slave and letting his lover (male) do as he pleased.
I was surprised with the end development, but it was good fun. I even earned five hundred from a satisfied client for my report (I kept pictures out of it, they were illegally taken and giving them to the client would see me out of business., but I kept them anyway. It might be useful at some point if I need it as a blackmail. You never know when you need it.)
My client told me that she tried to catch her husband on unfaithful behaviour many times and all previously hired PIs failed, (I bet they did not. They just charged her husband more to stay silent and destroy evidence) and so she is going to recommend me to her friends ( I am sure, it is wife's gossiping clique). The next day I got two more similar requests to find out what their partners were up to.
I was getting my feet under me, slowly and steadily. I even got a cash flow in, without breaking laws, well, mostly.
🕷
A few days later, I was hired to find a missing school-age girl. Police were not able to find her for the last two weeks and distraught parents decided to find help on the side.
As soon as I had all the details, I contacted J and asked him for help.
Unfortunately, the car that she was abducted by, was already found abandoned in a bad neighbourhood with no wheels, engine or anything that could help to find her.
I was going on foot, asking questions in the area where the car was left, while J. was trying to find anything that could help us find her.
"J. Did you check records for a few days before abduction?" I sent him a message when all my questions in the area had no results.
"What am I looking for, Miss?" replied J.
"Anything suspicious? Someone driving slow, probably observing Miss Kettlebell, maybe even quick interaction" I supplied.
"I am on it, Miss Romanova"
🕷
It was 3 am when I woke up from a buzzing phone. It was Jarvis. It might be something urgent.
"J?" I asked as soon as I picked it up.
"I have a lead, Miss Romanova," he replied immediately.
I was out of my bed already and jumping on one leg, trying to fit another in my yoga pants.
"I am listening"
J walked me through his investigation in short and to-the-point sentences. He suspected a cop as the culprit, after noticing him on the few CCTV records around Miss Kettlebell. Then, he discovered that the cop had been visiting some house for the last few days that was not registered under his name. When he checked old records, he found out that the cop visited it every day for the last two weeks and he was there right now.
Ten minutes later I was driving at high speed over LA to another part of the city. I agreed with J that the timing was quite suspicious and worthy of investigation.
When I finally arrived, I left my motorcycle a few blocks away and approached the house on my feet. There were no lights and the house was silent. I sneaked to the backyard and picked the backdoor lock. Carefully, I checked upstairs and ground floor - I found nothing: no signs of the cop or the girl or even any other living soul. Still, the cop's car was in the driveway. He should be somewhere here.
There were no visible doors leading to the basement. So, I went outside to check around. Nothing. I got back inside and started to go over anything suspicious that might be the entrance.
It took me fifteen minutes to find it, to my displeasure. He hid entrance to the basement in an old broken and monstrous fridge.
I was able to carefully open it and silently went downstairs.
The cop, or at least I suspected it was him, passed out on a bed that was taking up most of the basement space. The room smelled of sex and blood. I saw a cage in a corner, where on a dirty and bloody mattress was a small form of a supposedly missing girl.
It took me a moment to subdue him. He tried to raise, but I knocked him down fast, probably breaking a jaw in the process and maybe stepping on his jingles, purely accidentally of course. I made sure that he had no weapon or anything on him.
I checked the girl after that and found that she was still breathing.
"911. What is your emergency"
"It's PI Romanova. Registration number LA-8712-A. I found Miss Kettlebell, case 2008-1567-A. Please send an ambulance and patrol to 1718 Leafwood Dr, Monrovia"
"Yes, Ma'am. Is there any hostilities on the site?"
"Male, he is unconscious and I immobilized him. No immediate danger. The victim is unconscious as well, heartbeat is present, and breathing is shallow. There is visible head trauma. Possible internal bleeding. The victim was subjected to sexual abuse."
"Got it, Ma'am"
"Let officers and medics know that the basement entrance is in a small room at the end of the hall through an old fridge. I left it open. They may come in through the backdoor, it's unlocked."
After a brief pause, the dispatcher replied:
"Done. ETA five minutes for patrol and seven for ambulance"
When I was sure that the girl was more or less stable and was not going to die any moment, I looked around once more. There was a video camera on the tripod, TV and mini fridge. Looks like, the bastard was doing it for a while, it did not look like something was set up recently.
"Ma'am patrol is on site" I heard a 911 dispatcher voice from my phone.
"Thank you. I am waiting downstairs" I replied.
It was male and female partners. They had their weapon in their hands but pointed down.
"PI Romanova?" questioned the male officer.
"Yes, Registration number LA-8712-A. I called 911." I replied and without making sharp moves, showed the phone that was still in my hand.
As soon as they saw it, the female moved my way, while the male went to check on the scumbag.
"How is she?" she asked me with worry in her voice, holstering her gun and crunching next to me.
"The heartbeat is stable, but breathing is shallow," I told her, after checking the pulse again.
Soon medics arrived and Miss Kettlebell was on her way to the hospital. I prepared myself for a long night with papers and reports.
🕷
I got back home close to 11 am the next morning. As I predicted, I had to fill up reports, forms and other legal documents.
There was a stream of curious people to have a look at me under the ruse of congratulation. Fortunately, I was able to avoid most of the attention, by hiding somewhere deep in office space at the back. Before I can go, I need to finish a bit of paperwork.
The Department Chief came to see me too, to voice his thanks for helping in the girl's search. At the same time, he gave me a formal warning on misconduct under the Private Investigator Act. Under PIA I am not allowed to break in and had to go through proper channels first. I toed the line by claiming the backdoor was opened and I heard a muffled scream. nobody wanted to call me on that. Rumours on what has been found on site were already flying over the department.
Later, when I was ready to leave, they let me slip away through the employee-only exit. The public entrance was occupied by news channel crews, hungry waiting to interview me as soon as I was out of the door.
Nope, not gonna happen, not today or maybe ever.
When I finally got back home ( and the feeling of having a place to call home was so pleasant) I was all in a buzzing state - too much police-issued coffee on empty stomachs can do that to you.
While I was making something light to eat, I made a mistake by turning the TV on - I was on all local, and some US-wide, news. They were able to take my picture when I was sneaking out of the Police Department employee entrance only.
Great, just fucking great.
🕷
Location: Los Angeles
Date: May 23 2008
For the next few days, I was doing my best to avoid the press. J. warned me about some paparazzi sneaking around my office, so I stayed home.
Eventually, it became too much and I wrote to J.:
"J. I need to get away and do something. Any ideas?"
Usually, J responds immediately, but there was a long-minute pause before I got a call from Stark.
"Hi," I greeted him.
"Welcome to the world of celebrities, Miss Romanova," he said somewhat gleefully. He is enjoying it, I noticed.
"I swear it's almost like a New York invasion all over again" I grumbled back.
"I" Stark paused, " did not read details on that yet. Wow, really?" J. probably opened a page from my still-growing file for him.
"Okay, I am going ignore that. J. said you need to get away for a bit?"
"Yeah, Have anything in mind?" I replied with hope in my voice.
"Stern, you mentioned him on the file," said Stark.
"Are you sure? I don't think we are ready to touch anything around H."
Stern was HYDRA, I remember that. But, Stark was not so easily discouraged.
"He is a part of an illegal weapon sale network. He is buddy-buddy with my dear godfather" replied Stark with venom in his voice.
"I am not against milking him for information, but it is too early to poke that viper nest, Stark. If they feel that they are at risk, nobody around you is safe." I cautioned again.
Winter Soldier, the boogeyman of the century, is something that I really want to stay away from right now. Oh, fuck, I need to tell Stark about that and soon. Can I get away with writing it all down and dumping it on J's virtual hands?
"Okay, Okay. I see your point. But we can uncover anyone who does not know about H, right?"
"Right," I replied carefully.
"So, let's get our hands on his private records and find out who we can touch without H going on a murder spree?" proposed Stark.
"Sure. Washington DC, right? When am I leaving?" I asked.
"We. I am going with you" replied Stark.
🕷
I shook off my tail on the 101 again, going over the speed limit many times over. J. promised to suppress traffic cameras from registering my movements, so I could go on randevu with Stark.
We met with Stark on a private airfield, where he rented (or maybe bought, who knows) a private jet.
"So, what is the plan?" I asked as soon as I dropped in a chair inside a plane.
"J. tracked down encrypted communication to this location," said Stark and turned his laptop around.
"It's the Hideaway. " I didn't try to suppress my surprise.
"So there are places that you or J cannot force your way in?" I somewhat playfully jabbed him.
"Don't be absurd. We already broke in. It just so happens that we need to intercept his biometric-based encryption, or it will take too long to decode." Stark boasted first and then continued:
"I still don't know the location of his office, but I made it possible to locate his computer in the building."
Stark dumped a box on a table and opened it. Inside was a somewhat plain-looking watch: white plastic body and band with black screen.
"Here, you need to put this on. It will give you directions to his office when we are inside"
"What is your plan to get in? I am sure even you cannot just walk in the Hideaway."
"I have a meeting with Senator Weber," explained Stark.
I raised a brow, prompting him to continue.
"You are coming as my paper holder" He smirked and turned laptop again.
"You have a similar build, and she has all registered credentials to enter without hassle."
Dark raven hair, blue eyes and big glasses. She did have a similar body type. I can make it work.
"I assume you accounted for the need to change my appearance?" I inquired.
🕷
We went through the security checkpoint without any issues. It helps to lower alertness, when you are in the company of the Stark. Right now he is on the news almost daily. Everyone speculates about his decision to cut down weapon production and how he is going to ruin Stark Industries. It's hard to find anybody who doesn't recognize him at first glance.
I was automatically put into the checkbox for an unimportant background accessory. Especially with my look and thick folder in my hands, that I press to my chest.
When we got to the meeting office, Stark waived me off:
"Stay here"
"Yes, Mister Stark" I replied in a nervous voice.
Senator Weber met Stark out of his office, eager to meet Stark, and they both went inside, leaving me with Weber's secretary in the waiting area.
I gave her a nervous smile and sat on the edge of the chair for visitors.
In less than five minutes, J sent a pulse to my new watch. Looks like J caught a trail of the digital signature for the STane computer.
"Sorry, Do you know where the bathroom is?" I asked in a low voice, making sure to look uncomfortable and on the verge of peeing myself.
"Oh dear, too much excitement?" she asked me good-naturedly.
I gave her a nod.
"Go down the hall, turn on the left twice. Here, you need to have a key." She passed me a key card.
"Thank you!" I exclaimed and dashed out immediately.
As soon as I left the office, I shifted to the expression "I'm busy and I know where I am going" person. Looking at my watch every so often, only enforced the image of a busy woman that is late for an appointment or meeting.
Fortunately, Stern's office was not so far away and there was nobody in the halls to pay attention to me. I put my wrist, watch face forward, on the scanner and let J do his magic. It did not take long for him to pick a code. I was in.
Stark organized a meeting for this date for the solo reason that Stern was sitting on some committee today. Nobody should be in his office to prevent our intrusion.
I didn't stay around waiting for the download to finish or something like that. I need to just plug in the USB extender between the biometric keyboard and system block, so it can intercept whatever encoding Stark spoke about.
In and out. Easy.
When I was halfway back, I noticed security walking my way, paying extra attention to me.
"Sorry officer, I am looking for a bathroom" I gave him a charming smile.
"Do you have a keycard?" He asked suspiciously.
"Yes! Senator Weber's secretary gave me this. She explained how to get to the bathroom, but I am afraid I got lost." I said and showed him a card.
"You are not the first one. Are you new here?" I felt that his suspicious level barely changed. Looks like this one has good instincts.
"Oh, I am not working here. I came with Mister Stark. He is in a meeting with Senator Weber"
"It's this way, ma'am"
He walked me to the bathroom, waited until I came out and walked me back to the Senator Weber office.
"Do you know her?" He asked immediately as we came back to the office.
Weber's secretary looked with surprise at him and asked:
"Yes, she came with Mister Stark. What happened?"
"Nothing. Just making sure. Good day." he said and left.
I gave her a nervous smile and passed a keycard back.
"Thank you"
🕷
When we were leaving, the security officer who stopped me was standing in the hall. He followed us until we left the building.
"Admirer?" joked Stark, as soon as we were out and walking down the stairs.
"He found me in the halls after I was on the way back," I replied.
"Huh," said Stark and pulled his phone out.
"J. is already cracked encryption. We got what we came for"
"J is the best" I beamed to Stark and my "watch" gave me a pulse.
🕷
We didn't talk on the way back to the airport. Only when we were sitting back in the jet, I asked:
"How is it going with SI?"
"It is fine. I have, hopefully, a full list of all involved personnel. If I go for it now, I can clean it up, but there is a risk that they make a scapegoat out of Stark Industries. A few more days, a week max, and I am ready to move with it." he explained.
"What is Stane doing? He had a meeting with Raza a few weeks ago, right?"
"Stane wiped him out" grumbled Stark and continued:
"He got blueprints for the prototype and some scraps that survived after you blew it up. His pet engineers are trying to build a suit based on that."
"I don't like it" I replied and continued "It might end up with cluster-fuck"
"Don't worry, J watching them. And they are missing a key element," Stark tapped himself in the chest, producing a soft metal sound and finished with a sharp smile:
"His pets failed to reproduce this."
"Be careful, he might do something that you don't expect" I cautioned him.
Stark lost his smile and said solemnly: "I will. I will"
🕷
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