"Well I'll be damned." Jason read the article Zinda had found. "You have got to be kidding."
He had read that the Mind Control Tablet gifted those who are the masters of the mind the ability to manipulate people without their knowledge. That reading from the Tablet gifted such immense power to that individual, "We know Harley counts because she was a psychiatrist before tangoing with Joker."
He read further that there was a clause, a safe guard, against those who would use this power for personal gain. "This tablet was meant as an instrument to spread religious doctrine. But the gods who gave this power rightfully feared its manipulation. If a certain section of the tablet was read correctly, the power is taken away and the damage is undone. If another section is read, the power is transferred to the reader. If the tablet is destroyed... well let's avoid that."
"Let me guess, the power disappears but all the changes remain regardless of what we do." Zinda guessed as she still stared off at the far wall, playing with the tooth pick.
"Pretty much, yeah. Worst of all, we have no idea who has the tablet. Ra's? Dr. Clark? Some third party?" Jason wondered aloud.
"Can't let any of those people know what we know. The horror..." Zinda did her best not to sound bored.
She liked her hero friends, she really did, but she preferred her neck more. Zinda Blake was angling to play her hero pals and the forces of darkness off each other. Play both sides against the middle and come out on top. She wasn't on Jackie Clark's side. She wasn't on Brandy Wayne's side. She wasn't on Jason Todd's side. She wasn't on the Outsider's side. She was on Zinda Blake's side, thanks to Melissa's own mental manipulation of Zinda's mind all those months ago.
Zinda will do whatever it takes to keep herself on top. Jason moved around in his chair, "How the Hell are we going to find that tablet without tipping any of the bad guys off?"
"Don't know," was about to say don't care, but Zinda thought better of it, "best to keep the others in the loop. Eh? Hold on." Her phone was buzzing her. She recognized the number. She groaned, sighed, and answered, "Blackhawk Investigations. Zinda Blake on the line. How can I help?"
"Zinda, darling, sweetheart. Its been so long since we last talked. I felt we could catch up. In person. Come to my mansion. I have a little case I'd like you to investigate." Brandy Wayne insisted.
Zinda kept her cool, tried not to let her heart stop, "Sure, sure, be around there in 20 minutes, give or take." shit, shit, shit, did she fucking know?
Zinda hung up. Jason stared, "Should I ask?"
"Brandy Wayne. Says she's got a case. Wants to meet." Zinda informed, breathing slowly.
"A trap? Need back up?" Jason offered.
"No, no, I'm fine. Didn't sound too concerned with my activities. I'll go alone. You need to call the others. Share what we know. Start looking for that tablet." best done while Zinda was far away as possible. Ra's cash was only good for some much and so far. They left the library in opposite directions.
About twenty minutes later a couple of goons was escorting Zinda into the manor proper. She fixed her trench coat and her hair, got her fedora on just so. She smiled when Brandy entered. Brandy extended her arms for a hug, wine glass in hand, "Zinda! Just the detective I wanted to see. How have you been?"
"Peachy, just peachy." Zinda smiled as she accepted the hug.
"Sorry about the rough housing me and Zana forced you through a few months back. All a miss understanding." Brandy promised.
"Kind avoided with better communication, I hope. And bourbon..." Zinda motioned towards the fancy glass container with the whiskey inside.
"Of course, of course, rocks?" Brandy asked.
"Sure..." Dick fixed Zinda her drink as the two took seats. Brandy swished around her wine, "If I had known how easy it was to have you keep out of my business all the unpleasantness could have been avoided."
"Like I said, better communication takes you a long way." Zinda sort of repeated, then thanked the butler for her drink.
"Of course, of course. Keeping your nose clean of my business now. No poking into Jackie Clark, right?" Brandy asked deadly serious.
The room was deadly silent for a solid minute. Zinda was sipping her drink, entering into a staring contest with Brandy. Brandy stared back. Tension building in the air. Zinda counted only two armed goons protecting the door. Her free hand inched towards her pistol.
Then Brandy burst into laughter. Zinda joined the laughter, letting her hand relax away form her gun. Brandy whipped a tear away from her heavily made up eye, "I mean, come on. Zinda Blake, investigating Jackie Clark. After all the crap I put you through. That's comedy."
"Yeah, yeah, funny shit. Now, you said something about a case?" Zinda rather get down to business and away from the lion's den.
"Of course, of course. I have my fella's boys looking into another matter. All hands on deck kind of thing. I would love them to look into this other matter, but the boys, bit on the dim side. But not you. You got ever so close to a secret you were better off not knowing. Good thing too, since your so pretty and all. Iris West's money treat you well?" Brandy asked.
"Don't know. Gals at New Tamaran thought as much." Zinda joked. Brandy laughed, "You are a card, Ms. Blake. Any ways, I was thinking, I was thinking, I have no idea where to find no idea how to find a certain man. Ra's Al Ghul, Talia Al Ghul, and Nyssa Al Ghul to be clear. Just poof off my radar. Tried my usual avenues of contacting them, but they've cut me off. Perhaps you'd be willing to find them for me?"
Zinda knew all too well why Brandy was having a Hellva time contacting the Demon's Head and his children. They were playing a complex chess game where Brandy would lose if they won. Zinda didn't know Brandy's angle, didn't care much about it either. She just figured if she got them fighting each other they wouldn't pay much attention to her slipping under the radar, "Let me name my usual rates. Though with this case we might be looking at a special contract."
"I have the money. You know that all too well." Brandy was one cocky dame.
"Yeah, I figured as much." Zinda snickered.
"Oh and one other thing, if you find out about any one looking into Jackie Clark, well, let's say there's a Christmas bonus for detectives who share information like that." Brandy smiled.
Zinda was no rat, she knew what happened to snitches. But Jason had no idea what sort of meeting she was having with Brandy. Potentially she could give Brandy a half truth for the cash, warn Jason, and leave both to their cat and mouse game. She could tell Brandy nothing and be on her way. Or she could completely screw Jason royal, didn't much matter there was always the Outsiders who were willing to save the world. By now they knew everything she and Jason knew, so it wasn't like they were handicapped by losing one... scratch that two soldiers.
Decisions, decisions...
Fri May 19 07:39:15 2017
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