Disclaimer: Batman and related characters are the properties of DC COMICS. This is an original fan fiction story, not written for profit, and not intended to infringe on their copyright.

Death of Innocence

By: Shannyn Grayson Ivy

Morning. Why did it always come so early, Renee wondered. Sighing she absent-mindedly poured a stiff cup of java into her 'Cops do everything better with handcuffs' mug. The constant raindrops on her kitchen windowpane gave her somewhat of a clue as to how the day was going to go. Keen lighting zipped through the graying sky just as dime sized hail began to pelt her car's windshield. Her mind still in a sleepy fog, the significance of the weather at first escaped her. A tree branch slamming into her mailbox jolted her out of any thoughts of going back to bed and calling in sick. Just as the rain decided to fall with all its fury, Renee remembered she had left the car window down the night before on the driver's side.

"Shit!" She yelped and was running with her coffee mug still in tow. In seconds she had reached the side door of the house and ran barefooted out into the elements to save her beloved car seat. Too late she realized that no longer than it had been raining, it had come down hard and fast, leaving mud everywhere. Her small feet slipped out from under her as she cursed again, this time in Spanish. It was going to be a long day….

VVVVV

Jack Sanders mumbled curses under his breath as he scrambled into a make shift house made entirely of abandoned boxes. The cursed rain would weaken his walls, and collapse his roof if the intensity kept up. Being homeless now for the better part of a year, Jack had made this masterpiece of cardboard his home.

Jack's two pet rats, Jerry and Perry, scrunched up beside their beloved master waiting out the storm. Jack appeased his 'family' with a piece of bread that he had found in the dumpster on the corner of 85th and Grande. Jerry enjoyed the white bread while Perry snacked on the end pieces. Leaving only Jack to be annoyed by the sudden weather change.

Laying on his side and pulling his knees up to his chest, Jack closed his tired eyes to sleep. He had been out all night scouring for food. In the daylight he slept. The heat in the daytime hours was too overpowering to try to function for long. When the sun went down, that's when Jack and his boys Jerry and Perry liked to play.

The thunder outside did not grate on Jack's nerves as much as the squeaking his boys were making beside him. Long after they should have been finished with the bread the rats continued gnawing and screeching. Jack reached to pick them up to pet them, his eyes still closed, when he felt something cold and clammy to the touch beside them. Running his fingers over it, Jack could make out five half eaten digits on a detached hand. Jumping instinctively, Jack busted open the cardboard mansion and ran screaming out of the alley….

VVVVV

Half an hour later, Detective Renee Montoya stood over that same cardboard house inspecting the remains that Jack in his panic had left behind. From beside her, she vaguely heard a reporter, Summer Gleason, pressing Tom Reynolds, a newly recruited rookie officer for details. She smiled as Summer leaned over her and saw the decaying feminine hand for herself. Summer yelped and gagged and Renee was sure that her interference would no longer be a problem.

"Reynolds, show Miss Gleason to the mouth of the alley. No one should be in here." Looking to the fiery-headed determined reporter, Detective Montoya added, "NO ONE."

Summer huffed as a response but did not press the issue any further. She continued her live coverage from the safe distance on the other side of the yellow police 'do not cross' tape.

The shrill ring of Montoya's cell phone caught the nervous unseasoned officer off guard and Reynolds jumped as though the devil himself were after him. "Easy, Tom. It's just my phone. I'll be right back." Moving a safe distance away, so as to not be overheard, Montoya took her call, whispering, even as she answered.

"Montoya here." Renee smiled as recognized the smooth aging voice on the other end. "I was hoping it was you." Listening for a full minute and looking around to make sure she wasn't being watched, Renee continued. "Yes sir, same M.O. this makes seven girls in a matter of weeks." A frown found its way to her attractive features as she considered what her former boss and long time friend was suggesting. "Contact him? And just HOW do I do that sir?" Renee questioned annoyed. It's not that she minded Gotham City's guardian angel Batman being brought in on the case, in fact she welcomed the help. However, there was a matter that she would surely get fired if caught working with him, and certainly for contacting him with information only privy to the police department. "Yes, Jim. I understand. I'll take care of it." Renee assured the former Police Commissioner as she flipped her phone off. Her first instincts had been right but only conservatively so. It wasn't only going to be a long day, but a long night as well…

VVVVV

Hours later, at the end of her shift, Renee Montoya pushed her brunette hair aside, revealing the agony in her coffee colored eyes. If she did as Jim Gordon had asked, she could very well find herself unemployed or even in jail. If she did not call in the Batman, another young girl might lay dismembered in yet another alley in the morning. Waiting until she was alone in her car, Renee pulled out her cell phone and reluctantly dialed the number she had been given earlier that morning.

"May I help you?" An unidentified English voice filled Montoya's ears. Not Batman's, of that she was certain.

"I was given this number by… a friend. Who said it was the way to contact Batman." Renee stated sheepishly.

"I see. Detective Montoya, I presume." The English voice answered, surprising her. "Batman has been expecting your call. Hold please…"

"Oh boy, here we go…" Renee mumbled to herself. Drumming her fingers on the steering wheel, she found herself wondering why Batman did what he did. Always the last line of defense for the entire city, Batman gave of himself, with little thought of his own safety, time and again. Putting her job and even her freedom at risk to help him seemed very little to ask in the scheme of things.

"Detective." Batman stated coolly. He had to be careful he realized. Renee Montoya had worked briefly with the Batman on a few cases; however, she had also socialized with his alter ego Bruce Wayne on a few occasions as well. Montoya was a bright woman. Truly coining the phrase 'Gotham's Finest'. Great care had to be taken that the two men's voice's sounded nothing alike.

"Batman, we have…a situation. I assume you are up to speed on the recent discovery of dismembered females popping up all over the city." Renee stated and waited for confirmation.

"I have been briefed, yes." Came the curt reply.

Renee didn't have to ask by whom. She had no doubt that ex-Commissioner Gordon still had his hand in a lot of cases about town.

"Well there is one defining characteristic of this case that has been kept quiet. No need for a public panic."

From inside the cavernous dwelling Batman called home, he found himself leaning forward in his chair as Montoya spoke. She had peaked his interest.

"Continue." Batman spoke. His fingers steeple chased, he awaited the reason that Jim Gordon had given out his private number.

"Batman, there is... just no way to say this but to bluntly blurt it out, each female had bite marks in different locations on her body. And…and each girl was completely drained of blood." Renee's voice shook as she realized she was actually stating her theory aloud. "Batman, do you believe in, and what do you know about, Vampires?"

VVVVV To be continued…