I am freely going to say this now - this is most likely going to end with me either a) writing way too much in the beginning because I think I'll end with a lot and end up with a short last chapter or b) writing way too much in the beginning because I think I'll end with a lot and end up underestimating how much I write once again. Basically, my apologies if this is skewered one way or the other.

Oliver makes a promise to the city, is more than capable of delivering on a threat, and the girl of the hour reaches out, but probably not to who some people expect it to be.

***

"Severed subclavian artery, no defensive wounds," Oliver read from Cayden's file in disbelief, then closed it and looked up at Hill. "How did this happen?" he demanded.

"Some time between transfer and intake at Iron Heights, an inmate caught James unaware," Hill answered, making Oliver sigh in frustration. "By the time the guards intervened, it was too late."

"Motive?" Oliver asked.

"The inmate was a headcase off his meds," she shrugged. "For all we know, he thought he was killing his mother."

"Well, the random murder of Cayden James, it – it doesn't feel very random," Oliver seethed.

"It was bad timing and even worse luck, Mr. Mayor," Hill shook her head. "That's all."

"All right," Oliver sighed, nodding.

"But Cayden James was my responsibility," Hill told him. "If a head has to roll for this, make it mine."

"That is not how I run things here," Oliver told her. "Just . . . check in with the others who came in with him and keep doing what you're doing."

He left Hill's office, mentally bracing himself for the meeting that was about to take place at City Hall.

***

Not to Oliver's surprise, it was Quentin who managed to shout over everyone in the conference room and get their attention. "One at a time! One at a time!"

That, coupled with Thea's iron glare and Oliver's raised hand, finally silenced everyone. "Thank you," he looked around. "I understand that you're angry. I am – I am angry, too, but we are not gonna solve any problems by yelling at one another."

"Last I heard, Cayden James is dead, but you still don't have the money he stole," the representative from the Teachers Union said.

"You mean the money he was given," the woman representing the Fire Department glowered.

"We are still in the process of recovering the money that was extorted from the city," Oliver told her. "We just need a little more time."

Chatter erupted again, but the woman cut through the noise. "We're on the verge of financial collapse. Without an influx of cash soon, we all have to shut down – schools, sanitation, emergency services, everything!"

Oliver refrained from gritting his teeth. "Fine," he said. "We will have those funds back in forty-eight hours. You have my word." He looked around the table. "All of you have my word. Thank you."

He quickly stood and left the room, Thea and Quentin hurrying to catch up. "OK, um, not that I don't love your confidence and everything, but should we really be making promises like that?" Thea asked as they walked into Oliver's office.

"The accountant is on his way back from Corto Maltese with the money that was deposited into Cayden James' bank account as we speak," he told her.

"You could've just told them that, got those folks off your back," Quentin blinked.

"I'm not telling them anything concrete until that money is back in the city's bank accounts," Oliver shook his head. "My bigger concern right now is the concern Dinah has right now, and she is on the warpath."

"Evelyn," Thea murmured. "Any luck with that?"

"John is working a few leads, and your father and Siren have been working nonstop to find her in shadier ways," Oliver answered. "I'm being updated constantly. Nothing yet."

"Well, I'm looking on the bright side," Quentin snorted. "At least we don't have one of those Worldkillers in this city."

"Yeah," Oliver grimaced in agreement. "That's the last thing we need."

The intercom on his desk beeped, and his secretary spoke through it. "The accountant's here."

"Send him in," Oliver responded.

"All right, I'll take that as my cue," Quentin rubbed his hands together. "I got to head over to planning." He opened the door, and the accountant almost smacked right into him. "OK," he cleared his throat, stepping aside for the man to step by. "Welcome." He was about to head out again, only to stop and narrow his eyes when Dinah stepped in. "What are you doing here?" he asked.

"Well, he's carrying evidence," Dinah answered with a smirk. "I'm just, uh, making sure it doesn't get up and walk away."

"Good luck with that," Quentin scoffed, closing the door behind him as he left.

"Wasn't planning on seeing you here today, Lieutenant," Oliver scowled.

"Well, I wasn't planning on it, either," Dinah retorted. "But we've got a problem."

The accountant nodded. "Cayden James' Corto Maltese bank account has been withdrawn."

Oliver blanched. "What do you mean, it's been withdrawn?" Thea demanded angrily.

"It's empty," the accountant answered. "All seventy million. Somebody took all the funds out before we got access."

Oliver sighed. "Do we have any idea who?"

"No," Dinah shook her head, but a smug look was on her face. "But I do have one guess."

Oliver gave her a warning look as the accountant continued to speak. "I put in a request for the withdrawal log, but it's a long shot."

"If we don't have those funds in forty-eight hours, this city's government services will shut down," Oliver told him.

"And I understand," the accountant nodded, "but banks in third world countries like Corto Maltese aren't exactly known for their transparency. I'm sorry, Mr. Mayor."

***

Oliver walked into the loft, pausing and taking a sniff. "Something smells good," he remarked.

Kara poked her head up over the divider between the living room and the kitchen, an iced sugar cookie halfway in her mouth. "Hi!"

"Hi," Oliver chuckled, stopping and looking at his fiancée, noting the apron she wore. "Correct me if I'm wrong, angel, but I thought the chef had to finish baking all the cookies before she ate one?"

"Good thing she's not the chef!" Felicity turned around from the counter, putting an icing bottle down, William looking up from his rack of cookies. "She's horrible."

"Hey!" Kara blushed. "I'm allowed to be . . . not so super at some things! I can do physics, mathematics, and chemistry on paper, that doesn't mean I can do thermodynamics in the kitchen!"

"So who wanted cookies more, Kara or William?" Oliver couldn't help but grin.

His fiancée and his son pointed to the other at the same time. "Yes," Felicity supplied the answer.

Oliver shook his head fondly, then frowned. "Don't you normally have tutoring after school, bud?" he asked William.

"We all got sent home," he answered. "Ms. Cho said it had to do with the budget. Is it true they might have to close the schools?"

"I'm working very hard to make sure that doesn't happen," Oliver assured him. "There's actually something that I need to speak with Kara and Felicity about."

Kara's eyes widened, and she quickly swallowed her bite. "I'll keep working on the cookies," William turned around.

Felicity patted his shoulder, and Kara nabbed another cookie before walking over to join Oliver. "Hey," she hurried to pass Felicity. "Hey, wait." Oliver paused, then smiled when Kara wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. "You look like you need one."

Oliver sighed, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, hugging Kara as well. "You know me well, angel."

Felicity smiled, keeping her distance before asking, "What's going on?"

Oliver cleared his throat. "The money that Cayden extorted from the city . . . someone emptied the account."

"Well, we have Diaz, Anatoli, and Talia," Felicity said slowly, a smile starting to form on her face. "That leaves the somebody as Evelyn."

"Or another player that we haven't seen yet," Oliver pointed out. "We requested the withdrawal logs from the bank, but – "

"It's Corto Maltese, it's taking too long, you want me to help expedite it," Felicity guessed.

Oliver nodded. "I need it to look like it's coming through official channels."

"Yeah, I know," Felicity smiled. "It's not my first rodeo with Corto Maltese. Give me about an hour."

Oliver nodded, watching Felicity go back to helping William with the cookies. "Funny timing," Kara mumbled.

"Hmm?" Oliver looked down at her.

"Cayden's killed, then the money goes missing," Kara looked up at him. "Maybe it's the same person who framed you for his son's murder."

"Could be," Oliver nodded. "The only thing I know for sure right now is that if I don't get that money in forty-eight hours, this city is going to have my head."

"Well," Kara leaned her head on his shoulder, taking a bite of her cookie. "They'll have to get through me first."

Oliver barked out a laugh. "I'd enjoy seeing that."

"Yeah, I bet you would," Kara grinned, holding up the treat in her hand. "Cookie?"

"Why not?" Oliver chuckled, taking a bite from it and making Kara giggle.

***

"Well, one thing I know for sure," Malcolm locked the door behind him and walked over to where Laurel was flipping through files on a tablet, Slade looking up from his drink. "If there's one thing Evelyn learned to do, it was to hide. Every possible trail on her is colder than our love lives."

Laurel snorted loudly, giving him a dirty look. "Now that's cold, Merlyn."

"Got something to tell us, then, Siren?" Slade quirked an eyebrow.

Laurel pursed her lips, looking back down at her tablet. "You're talking to a ghost, Wilson. It's hard to date someone that way."

"You live with another ghost," Slade smirked. "There you go."

"There's still good news," Malcolm cleared his throat, drawing away from that topic. "The other team is having the same trouble. I just made sure Rene didn't run into me."

"Let me guess, you shot him," Laurel drawled, not looking up.

Malcolm faked staggering backwards. "You wound me, Siren."

"That's what I'm here for," she smirked. "Bruising your ego."

Slade snickered. "We have the same job."

"In all seriousness, it means Dinah's going to get more wound up," Malcolm warned, making Laurel finally look up. "And that's going to make her more dangerous."

Laurel swallowed hard. "So we keep looking."

"I didn't plan on stopping," Malcolm assured her, then looked up when Slade's phone chirped. "Isn't that Oliver's tone?"

"Yes," Slade nodded, checking his screen, and he smirked. "Looks like there's a lead on the missing money."

***

"You're not gonna believe it," the accountant hurried into Oliver's office, placing his laptop down on his desk, Dinah shutting the door behind them. "The bank just sent over the withdrawal log we requested plus security footage."

"That is unbelievable," Oliver hid a smirk.

"What are we seeing?" Dinah asked.

"The account was accessed by this woman," the accountant pointed, and Oliver swallowed hard, seeing a very familiar young woman walk down the hall, her long, straight dark hair replaced by jaw-length, wavy blonde locks. "She's listed in the withdrawal log as Crystal Sparrow. Took the entire amount in bearer bonds."

Crystal Sparrow. Oliver made the connection immediately – a gemstone just like a diamond, a bird similar to the mantle she had originally used. Almas and canary . . . or siren. He tore his gaze away from Evelyn on the screen to exchange looks with Dinah. "Some excellent work, Jay," he finally said. "OK, we'll take it from here. Thank you."

"Thanks," Dinah nodded to the accountant as he packed up and left. She watched Oliver round his desk, then checked to make sure the door was closed. 'I'm guessing Felicity had something to do with this."

"Yes, she did," Oliver confirmed, now just fine with giving her an annoyed look. "Thank you for inserting yourself into this, by the way."

"Oh, yeah, sure," Dinah scoffed. "Well, you never would've shared the information otherwise."

"No, I wouldn't have," Oliver agreed. "Because I don't trust you to do the right thing."

"And what is that?" Dinah sneered. "Politely ask Evelyn to give back the money?"

"Not kill her," Oliver answered bluntly. "Dinah, I understand that you're hurting. I get it. I also understand that I don't have the most credibility when it comes to telling people not to commit murder. But the city is on the verge of economic collapse, so get in your head that Evelyn is the key to fixing that."

"Evelyn is never giving you that money," Dinah growled.

Oliver actually snorted. "You sound like you know that."

"Yeah, I do," Dinah nodded, walking forward. "Because I know that when you look at her, all you see is a teenage girl putting on the mask of a victim – a classic scared teenager. And she's already manipulating you, and she'll keep doing it until you'll never be able to do what's necessary to get that money back."

"And you will?" Oliver countered. When Dinah lifted her chin defiantly, Oliver's eyes narrowed to slits. "You say she's wearing a mask. Unlike you, I saw the schematics Brainy ran of that collar Cayden created for Evelyn. She's not playing a victim – she is a victim. She's been a victim too many times. I've failed her once. I'm not going to fail her again. So understand something, Dinah . . . if you want to cross that line, you're gonna have to go through me first."

Dinah narrowed her eyes right back. "If you're gonna threaten me, Oliver, you better be damn sure you can deliver."

She turned and headed for the door. "I've beaten Malcolm Merlyn, Slade Wilson, and Adrian Chase," Oliver spoke up, making Dinah pause in her footsteps. "I killed Ra's al Ghul when I was his heir and became the Demon's Head for a short amount of time. I killed Damien Darhk because he killed the Laurel I knew before the one we have now. My hands were red with Cadmus blood when they tried to kill Kara. You, Rene, and Curtis tried to take on my doppelgänger and failed miserably. I was the one who killed him. And that's just me, not including those I know are going to defend Evelyn." He walked around the desk. "There's Slade Wilson. Former ASIS, my brother in all but blood, who knows exactly what makes me tick. Just the other day, he shot a copycat in the hand because she tried to kill someone he saw as surrogate family. She'll never recover from that shot. And need I remind you that his headshot at Lillian Luthor is most likely the shot that killed her?"

Dinah remained silent. "Malcolm Merlyn," Oliver continued. "Driven to the League of Assassins because of the death of his wife, vowing to be able to protect his family no matter what it took. He's nearly killed me several times before. He was willing to level part of the city just to avenge his wife's death. Or have you forgotten his ideas were responsible for the deaths of five hundred and three, just in one night?" Dinah tensed, and Oliver nodded. "Or maybe I need to remind you he was the one I gave the ring of Ra's al Ghul to? Or maybe I need to remind you that this is also the man who stepped on a landmine for his daughter, was the second to agree to go to Earth-38 with me to find Kara, and took a bullet for Professor Stein. Go after someone he cares about, and it's a death sentence. Or, go after someone that means something to someone he cares about. That brings me to Laurel Lance. Well, you know most of her rep. Zoom's most trusted lieutenant, one of Adrian Chase's closest allies. She has a scream that tops yours. Here's the important thing to keep in mind . . . she knows Evelyn better than you or I probably do. Like hell she's going to let you get to her." He stopped in front of Dinah, raising an eyebrow. "And do I really need to say anything about my invulnerable, superpowered fiancée?" he asked dryly. "You say I should be damn sure I can deliver on a threat." He leaned in close, eyes dark. "I promise you, Dinah . . . I can deliver."

Dinah gritted her teeth, then stormed out of the office, leaving Oliver to watch her go.

***

Slade sighed, listening to what Oliver had to say on the other end of the phone. "Got it. Thanks, kid."

"That doesn't sound very reassuring," Malcolm said dryly.

"Well, that depends," Slade turned around.

"On?"

"Do you want good news or bad news first?"

"I'll take good," Laurel answered.

Slade nodded, bracing himself. "We now have a lead on Evelyn."

"What?!" Laurel shot upright, eyes widening.

"Oh, thank God," Malcolm sighed in relief.

"Not so fast," Slade shook his head. "The bad news it's not just our lead now."

"Why?" Laurel frowned.

Slade sighed. "Because the lead is that Evelyn was the one who went to Corto Maltese and took the money Star City needs."

Laurel's eyes widened in shock.

***

"Oh," Thea sighed, watching the video again in Oliver's office. "I guess we know now what happened to seventy million dollars."

"Right," Oliver nodded, walking around his desk. "We find her, we find the money."

"Are we concerning ourselves the most about the money or getting Evelyn to safety?" Quentin raised an eyebrow.

"Yes," Oliver answered. "Considering Dinah wants revenge and she is set on Evelyn being the one who made the decision to kill Vincent."

"So if Evelyn's not safe, the money might not be safe," Thea said.

"Exactly," Oliver nodded.

"Well, all right," Quentin let out a breath. "I mean, Laurel vouched for her. Granted, if Slade Wilson and Malcolm Merlyn could come around, why not her."

"That's everyone's argument right now," Oliver snorted. "And it's valid. Laurel gave Evelyn an out, which she needed. We just need to find Evelyn before the others do."

"Well, if you do and need a place to hang low, let me know," Quentin nodded. "I may have something."

"Will do," Oliver nodded. "Thank you, Quentin."

"Sure," he nodded back.

***

"So I have looked through all flights into Star City for any mention of Crystal Sparrow, and I got a match," Curtis said, making Dinah lean over his shoulder to see his computer screen. "A flight came in from Central City an hour ago with Crystal Sparrow on it. She came from another flight that departed from Corto Maltese."

"And we probably wouldn't know about it because Team Flash would side with Oliver," Rene sighed.

"Probably," Curtis nodded.

"Yes," Dinah corrected. "So she's only been here an hour. Good. Now we just have to find her before the others do something stupid."

Curtis frowned, looking up. "Stupid how?"

"Oliver and anyone he's close to is not seeing clearly on this," Dinah answered. "He's desperate to get that money. He will believe anything Evelyn says, including whatever more crap she says about Vincent."

Rene frowned. "Shouldn't we also be desperate for that money? The city's hurting."

"I know," Dinah nodded, "but there are more effective ways to find out where she's keeping that money."

Curtis balked. "Sounds like you're talking about torture."

"And it sounds like you want to go soft on her," Dinah scowled. "Curtis, the only way to get justice for Vince and money for the city is going to be messy."

"Look, if we know Oliver and his team, then they're already out there hitting the streets to find Evelyn," Rene cut in. "If we want to find her first, then we need to get out there, too."

"Agreed," Dinah nodded curtly, heading to put her suit on.

Curtis watched her go, then looked back at Rene. "Are you serious?" he hissed. "Look, I'm not Evelyn's biggest fan ever, but torture?"

"I don't like it, either," Rene shook his head. "I mean, I don't want to go easy on her, but that is where I'd draw the line. I mean, Oliver did have a point . . . she's still really young."

Curtis sighed. "We'll just have to try and keep her from doing something stupid."

Rene scoffed. "Yeah, try being the word of choice today."

***

Oliver finished shutting down his computer and stood up to leave when his phone rang. He looked at the Caller ID, frowning when he didn't recognize it. He finally answered, a suspicious frown on his face. "Hello?" When he heard the voice on the other end, Oliver almost sat back down in his chair, he was so surprised. For a few seconds, he stared at his phone in complete shock before finally clearing his throat and saying something else. "Where are you?"

***

Newspapers blew past Oliver's feet as he stopped behind the abandoned theater, and he slowly turned in a circle. After not seeing anyone, he took a deep breath. "I came alone."

There was a second of silence, then a voice came from above. "I didn't think you would."

Oliver looked up to see Evelyn crouched on the fire escape, wearing a black trench coat that easily helped her blend into the night. "You know where Laurel lives," he told her, not taking a step forward. "But you called me instead. So, I can think of a few things that may mean. One, you don't want overwhelming attention on you immediately. Two, I'm the one you felt comfortable talking to first. Not so sure about that option, though. Option three . . . you wanted to talk to me, and only me, alone."

Evelyn looked down at her boots, biting her lip. "I'm surprised you even came."

"Did you think I would ask Laurel or Malcolm to come instead?" Oliver raised an eyebrow. She winced, showing yes, that was exactly what she thought. "Evelyn," he sighed.

"After everything I've done?" Evelyn finally looked up, standing up and leaning against the fire escape. "I turned my back on the team because of you, I joined Adrian because of you, I accepted Talia's help because of you, joined Cayden with her because of you – "

"You really know how to flatter me, Evelyn," Oliver sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Evelyn's blush was visible in the minimal light. "But you shouldn't be helping me," she shook her head. "Not after all I did to try and hurt you."

"Evelyn, if I had that mindset now, there are three people on my team who probably wouldn't be on it right now," Oliver told her. "Well, two most likely. The other might be somewhere I couldn't find him without him telling me."

Evelyn smiled slightly. "Is that Slade?"

"Yep," Oliver nodded. "But Evelyn, here's what I need to know right now in this moment to do anything further since this is the first honest conversation I think we've had in God knows how long. Do you regret what you've done?"

"Yes," Evelyn answered at once, nodding. "And I'm sorry about it, Oliver. All of it."

Oliver nodded slowly. "And do you want our help? Actually want it, not just as some sort of cover to disappear into thin air later?"

"Yes," Evelyn answered firmly.

Oliver nodded more firmly this time. "Then come down," he told her. "We need to get you off the streets. Dinah could still be looking for you."

Evelyn opened and closed her mouth a few times. "That's it?" she finally stammered as she hurried down the fire escape.

"What more do you want me to say?" Oliver asked, tilting his head. "That I hate you? That I wish you were dead because of what you've done?" Evelyn flinched, and Oliver shook his head, finally walking forward. "Evelyn, you are eighteen. You've suffered because of too many people. Damien Darhk, Adrian Chase, Cayden James – he's dead, by the way," he added as an afterthought.

Evelyn's head shot up. "He's dead?" she repeated.

"He was killed, more specifically," Oliver nodded, watching Evelyn close her mouth and look away in shock, tears in her eyes. "I'm on that list, too," he said quietly. "I've made mistakes. I made them with you, I admit that. You are only a few years older than my son, Evelyn, and what you have done . . . is nothing compared to others I know who have been given second chances and have gone above and beyond to prove they were given them for a reason. You want that chance, too. I want to give it to you." He held out his hand, causing Evelyn to turn back and look at it. "We'll keep you safe," he promised.

Evelyn stared long and hard at his hand before swallowing and lunging forward. Oliver had just enough time to blink before Evelyn was hugging him tightly, body shaking with sobs. "I'm sorry," she choked out, and Oliver hugged her back, still stunned she had done that. "I'm so sorry!"

"It's OK," Oliver swallowed hard, squeezing her a bit. "It's gonna be OK."

Dinah had claimed Evelyn was pretending to be a victim, that she was pretending to be a scared teenager. But if she was pretending . . . she was doing a ridiculously impressive job of fooling not only him, but Kara, Malcolm, and Laurel. He sincerely doubted she was pretending.

The only difficulty would be proving that to the livid canary in question.

***

How many people were expecting Evelyn to call Oliver, eh? My thought process was she didn't want to be smothered with attention the moment she got back because that would probably draw attention right to her, and she had more to say to Oliver, especially one-on-one.

Don't worry, our favorite redeemed villains meet up with her next time. :)