Archive of Our Own

The door to an ACME office flung wide open, slamming into the wall before bouncing back. Carmen caught it in her raised hand as it swung back around. She stood in the doorway, resolute and scanning the room for her target. 

For once in her life, her target found her first. 

“Hello, Miss Sandiego.” Chief set down the sheaf of papers she’d been examining on her desk and stood to greet her visitor.

“I want to find Gray,” Carmen said by way of introduction, closing the door behind her as she entered the room. “And I’m willing to bet you already know how.”

Chief moved around to the front of the desk and stood at attention in front of the younger woman. “I’m sorry, Sandiego. He didn’t exactly leave a forwarding address.” 

“Honestly, I don’t think I believe you. I don’t think you would have let him go that easily. In fact, knowing you, you have him microchipped.” 

Chief moved forward, bearing down on Carmen. “You know what? I did. And then in Morocco a year and a half ago he received a shock so strong that it fried the chip.” 

Carmen blanched and staggered back a step. Memories flooded her mind. She had done her best to suppress them, but every once in a while she remembered with absolute clarity the things she did under VILE’s control. It was like a waking dream, remembering herself as she had been then, so different from who she truly was...

Knocking out Deveneaux with a kick to the face, then beating Jules into the wall.  Cold metal wrapping around her head as she reached for the diamond. Gray’s arms holding her steady while the headset activated.  A quiet, quavering voice saying, “Please come back.” Flinging him over her shoulder to the floor.  His golden eyes, wide with shock. The crackle rod.  Her fault. 

Chief reached for Carmen’s arms to steady her, regret already showing on her face. Carmen’s attention slowly resurfaced, latching on to the woman in front of her. “I’m sorry, Sandiego. I shouldn’t have said it like that. But really, he was adamant about not being involved with you. He didn’t want you to find him.”

Carmen laughed humorlessly at the irony. It seems Jean Paul and Antonio had been right on the nose about that. “Chief. Please . You and I both know it’s been too long already. VILE has been taken down. Zach and Ivey and Player are all taken care of with ACME, Shadowsan got to go home to his brother. I know who my father is and I found my mother. All of my loose ends are tied but one. I need him. If nothing else, don’t he and I both deserve closure?” 

Chief looked into Carmen’s desperate eyes for a long moment, then sighed. “Fine. I was lying, anyway. We get in touch with him every couple weeks when we need assistance with a case. I think he likes being able to put his skills to use. But I don’t keep a file for him. I promised him freedom and options and I’ve tried to be true to that. We track him down afresh each time we want to ask for his help, though he doesn’t move around much and he’s been at the same address the last three times we contacted him. The best thing I can give you is that last known location, from four weeks ago.”

“Thank you, Chief. I only need one more thing.”

One impeccable eyebrow rose. “What’s that?”

Carmen reached up to adjust her fedora. “I need the location of all the coffee shops within walking distance of Gray’s last known residence. My best bets will be the ones with an ocean view.”