Chapter Seven: (Wally)

It's a beautiful day in Gotham. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and there is a subtle breeze the masks the scent of exhaust. I take a deep breath in. 'Ahhhh today is a good day' I think to myself. Today we are going to get Artemis back. The whole team is undercover scanning south Gotham looking for any trace of Artemis. I am dressed in an open plaid, flannel shirt with a white t-shirt underneath, a pair of blue jeans, my beautiful black and white Nike free run shoes, and a pair of aviator sunglasses. I look awesome. It's really nice to not be Kid Flash for awhile even though we are on an undercover mission. I don't have people following me, trying to take my picture, or get my autograph. Just to stroll the streets of Gotham is a gift.

Everyone has their own individual missions for an overall mission, which is to locate Artemis and bring her home. M'gann and Aqualad are in the camouflaged bio-ship scanning from the air. Conner is with Rocket back at home base going over the video and making plans, mapping directions/possible routes she could have taken and places she could have gone. Robin, Zantanna, and I are on the ground waiting for Rocket and Conner to give us directions on where to go. We start at the scene of the assault where Artemis took down that creep in the alley. It's pretty clean, the cops did a good job; but they don't have one of the bat's sidekicks on their team. Robin finds half a splintered shaft with the fletching still intact. "That's an awesome find Rob", I praise. Robin gives me a look.

"Umm Wally are you feeling okay?" he questions.

"Uh yeah…Why?" I respond.

"Well you are acting like happy", Rob smirks.

"I would say he is very whelmed", Zantanna teases.

"Yeah I am feeling very optimistic about this mission", I explain. They both nod in agreement.

"See what did I say", he recalls.

"You were right", I admit.

"Zantanna, Wally, Robin come in".

"We are here copy"

"Rocket thinks that maybe you try her mom's apartment. She lives in south downtown Gotham. The address is 9879 256th street, apartment 35"

"Great lead guys", I cheer.

"Uh Wally..."

"Don't bother", Robin interrupted.

"Gotcha, okay well me and Rocket will continue researching".

"Okay do you guys want to form a strategy?" asks Robin, but I am already racing ahead. "Wally!" they shout, but I am long gone and on my way to 9879 256th street, apartment 35. I run past bakeries, restaurants, houses, stores all the way to the Green Leaf Apartment Complex. I wait outside the building till Robin and Zantanna come jogging around the corner.

Huffing and puffing Robin says, "Geez Wally you could have waited". Zantanna nods.

"There is no time for waiting. We are on a mission", I articulated.

"Good God", Zantanna spoke up, "Wally for God's sake let us have a minute!"

"Okay, okay", I agreed. After a good sixty second I push my teammates up six flights of stairs to room 35. When we got there a rush of anxiety and nerve struck me like a bolt of lightning. I couldn't even raise my hand to knock on the worn oak wood door.

"Well…" inquired Robin, "Are you gonna knock or just stand there like a deer in headlight or what?"

"Uhh", is all I can muster.

"Fine I will do it", stated Zantanna. She pounds three times on the door. No answer. She knocks again, still no reply. "Maybe they aren't home…" Zantanna offers.

"Maybe…" I trail off. Just then I hear footsteps coming up the stair. "Guys, someone is coming!" We all duck behind the nearest corner and wait for the civilian to enter from the stairwell. The man who came from the stairs was not what I expected. This man looked to be in his late sixties or early seventies carrying a brand new briefcase and wearing what looked to be a Ravazollo which is not cheap. "What is he doing in a dump like this?" He takes out a key and unlocks the door to room 35.

"What the…" Robin starts, "That's not Artemis's mom is it?"

"I sincerely hope not", I begin, "But WAIT! Isn't her mom in a wheelchair?"

"Oh yeah", agree Robin and Zantanna.

"So what should we do?" asks Zantanna.

"Well we should probably question him", Robin suggests. We walk to him door and Robin quietly knocks. The door slowly opens and an old wrinkled face pokes out.

"Yes?" says the old man.

"Umm hi sir my name is Charlie Rogers and I am from….." rehearses Robin.

"As much as I would love to hear what you're selling I just got home from a busy day of work so come back some other time and I would love to listen", he insisted. Robin looked at me and then Zantanna. Simultaneously we all take out FBI badges from our pocket. The man's eyes grew wide with surprise. "Please come in officers", he stammered.