I don't know why I'm doing this. I'm not even supposed to know who he is. But he needs to know what's happened, and I know he wouldn't have caught any news or responded to any calls to his civilian persona– I can't even bring myself to say his name–because he's been focused on the Taylor kidnapping case. It's cold so that I can see my breath as I wait on the rooftop for his response. I'm wearing my usual tan trenchcoat and I've got my hands stuffed in my pockets. Have I mentioned it's cold? Maybe it's more what I know I have to tell him when he gets here.
"What is it? You know how busy I am." I spin and jump involuntarily. I really wish he wouldn't do that, but the world would end before he would come to the roof from the direction I'm facing.
"I know. I'm sorry. But something's happened that I thought you should know, and I didn't think you'd see it." I know he sees that it's bad news.
"Something related to the kidnapping case?" As he asks it, I sense he's not allowing himself to believe that it is. If only it were.
"Um. Well it involves the police." Here it is. I've got to say it. "It happened in Blüdhaven." I watch for a reaction, and I can see it in his eyes. That's the only place to look if I want to see anything from him. I look to the ground, and I can feel the tears forming as I try to say the words, "A young rookie cop has been killed in the line of duty. His name was Dick Grayson." I look up. He's gone.