Ever since Brick had tried to take over the Glades and SCPD had begun refusing to venture too far into that area, Team Arrow had become the primary line of defense in the Glades against crime, since the Glades task force Laurel was putting together was still far from being ready, since there just weren't enough officers willing to join yet, though it was getting there, since Laurel was offering them a higher salary than normal cops.

Anyways, Team Arrow was currently patrolling the Glades when Winn came on over the comms.

"Guys, I know it's not exactly our purview, but there's a fire going on in an apartment context in the Glades." Winn said.

"What's the status of SCFD?" Black Canary asked.

"They won't make it in time, since I'm not sure they're even trying to get there." Winn said.

"Note to self, tell the fire chief to get his head out of his ass before I fire him." Black Canary muttered to herself.

"We're on it. Frostbite, fly around the building and put out the areas where the fire looks the worst, Winn, try and find anyone still stuck inside, Canary, Arsenal and I will get the people to safety." Green Arrow said and they all nodded.

Team Arrow wasted no time in getting the people to safety from the fire and though it was too dangerous for them to get people out from the main entrance, Frostbite used her powers to create an ice path from the roof of the building to the one next to it before moving to contain the fire with her ice blasts while Black Canary helped get people across while Green Arrow and Arsenal continued searching the building for any other trapped people.

Speaking of, Green Arrow forced his way into an apartment to find an asian woman standing terrified in a corner, trying to avoid the flames.

"Please, help me." the woman said.

"Don't worry, I will." Green Arrow said and no sooner did he say that did he hear a bullet pierce the window and he moved just in time to push the woman out of bullet's range.

"What was that?" the woman asked.

"I don't know, but come on, we need to get you out of here." Green Arrow said as he led the woman up to the roof.

"Winn, did you get eyes on the shooter?" Green Arrow asked.

"Negative. I'll see if Roy can get me some forensics when the police eventually arrive." Winn said.

"Copy that." Green Arrow said.

"So, anyone else getting the feeling that this fire wasn't a coincidence since a woman was almost shot in it?" Roy asked as the team gathered in the bunker after successfully putting out the fire and saving everyone.

"This was a cover. Whoever the shooter was, they had the fire set an attempt to cover their tracks. Someone wanted that woman dead." Oliver said.

"The question is, why? Who is that woman and why would someone want her killed?" Laurel asked, though it was clear that she was still ticked about the fire department practically being a no show.

"Winn, please tell me you got an id on her?" Oliver asked.

"I did. Her name is Kazumi Adachi." Winn said and Oliver, Thea and Laurel all exchanged looks.

"Emiko's mother." Oliver said.

"I'm sorry, but Emiko as in your estranged, never half-sister Emiko?" Winn asked.

"Yeah, her. I've been searching for her for months, but apparently she's out of the country. And now someone was trying to kill her mother." Oliver said.

"If we can get proof, we can put Kazumi in protective custody." Roy said.

"Then see if you can get us some, but it'll have to wait until the morning. And I am going to be having a long talk with the fire chief tomorrow about why the fire department was nowhere to be found tonight." Laurel said.

"I almost feel bad for him." Oliver said and Thea and Roy both looked like they shared his sentiments.

"You wanted to see me Mayor Lance?" Fire chief Raynes asked Laurel when he entered her office the next morning.

"Yes chief, I wanted to talk to you about the fact that there was a fire in the Glades last night and is what I heard is correct, the SCFD was nowhere to be found. In fact, if it weren't for the vigilantes, the lives of everyone in that building could've been lost. So tell me chief. Where was the fire department last night?" Laurel asked and Raynes squirmed as he felt under a microscope.

"The fire was deep in the Glades, the boys didn't want to risk their lives." Raynes began only to have Laurel cut him off.

"Then they shouldn't have become firefighters. You took an oath to help the people of this city, every single one of them, regardless of what part of the city they're from. If you can't uphold that oath, I will find someone else who can. The Glades are just as much a part of Star City as any other part of it and it's high time the rest of the city remembers that. Do I make myself clear?" Laurel asked.

"Crystal." Raynes said.

"This will be your only warning chief. If this happens again and especially, if the vigilantes aren't around to cover your ass, then I will have your badge." Laurel said.

"I understand Ms. Mayor. It won't happen again." Raynes said.

"Good. Now get out of my office so I can figure out how to explain this situation you've put me to the press without making it seem like the city has become dependent on vigilantes, since while I support them, I have no intention of Star City becoming dependent on them for everyday matters, since the tax dollars of this city pay for services to cover those." Laurel snapped and Raynes nodded and he looked like he could not get out of that office fast enough.