SIX SHOTS AT A BODY
1 – The author does not own or makes any claims over Batman and related characters and situations. Tale for entertainment purposes only.
2 – The only Batfamily character I wrote to this date is Damian Wayne – if you wish, check my Supersons tales posted under "Robin" – so, tips and opinions more than welcome.
3 – A quick whodunnit with the kids and Selina.
"I don't expect you do like each other."
"Fine. We don't."
"It's mutual, Todd."
Bruce Wayne gave a stern look at the bickering duo. Even if both Jason Todd and Damian Wayne tried to disguise, it was enough to make then shut up.
"I don't expect you to work together."
Duke Thomas was about to say something about that being a given, since he was the only one to cover the day shift but decided to keep quiet.
"But this is Gotham. They don't do what's expected, so neither do we." Stroking some keys, he opened a file on the computer, before putting on the feared cowl.
"Solve the case. Together. I'm off to the League."
With that, Batman departed from the Cave, leaving six motionless figures behind.
"Want to take the lead, Selina?" asked Dick Grayson after seconds of uncomfortable silence, just to get four complaining voices as answer.
Selina Kyle herself added to the unhappy gang.
"Richard…"
"Dick."
"I appreciate it, but I am not used to lead a team - "
"Great opportunity to learn."
"Nor I know the strengths of you all - "
"Grayson's good. I am better. The end." Said Damian.
"Damian! Again, a good opportunity to learn."
"Still, I would be more comfortable with you ahead."
"Anyone has anything against Grayson?"
"If it means to make you mad, shorty…"
"Tim… Enough. If I am leading, let's act." Dick sat at the computer. "Let's see the case. Tobias Darogham. CEO at Darogham, Carlyle Finantial. 73 years old. Married to Pauline Mann. Ex-top model. 29 years old. Bruce suspects murder, but the autopsy found no foul play."
"How was his body found?"
"Hers, Duke. The one dead is the wife."
"That's unusual. Often is the trophy wife the criminal who kills the rich husband." Said Jason, with deliberated second intentions. Selina let it slide.
"Darogham, Carlyle is a name I recognize. They are one of the go-to companies to laundry money." Said Selina.
"How fortunate are we to have someone with such expertise."
"Don't mind the little hell-spawn, Selina." Said Tim "It's what we all do."
She sighed and went on:
"I think the Carlyle was murdered a few years ago."
"If we're probing this, Tim, assume the computer. Your google-fu is better than mine." Came Dick, getting out of the chair.
"Yes." Tim Drake just needed a few key strokes to find an answer. "Bernie Carlyle, dead at a cross-fire between some low-end criminals, the police and his own bodyguard." More keys were stroke. "Word in the streets for a while was Falcone family was not happy about their services, and filled a lead and powder complain. No connection was found, however."
Everybody looked at Selina.
"Sorry to disappoint you, boys, but there's no such thing as an underworld bridge club. I know nothing about that."
"Fine. Let's see what else we find."
After some deliberation, each one got a line of investigation to follow.
FIRST NIGHT – JASON TODD – RED HOOD
His lungs were on fire, but he kept running. Later, he could train his drunk philosophy about how Gotham means fear for every citizen, but now he must get away. Thankfully, he knew the docks very well. He jumped some garbage. Its smell drove most people away, and its size blocked most of the view of those who dared to get close. So, this alley is hidden. On the side of it, a narrow passage. So narrow even fit people may find difficulty to squeeze through it. In the end, a very low door no one notices in the first place. He was inside the industrial shack. Occasionally it is stacked with people from God-forsaken holes of the world, sewing famous brand labels on generic clothes. A particular time, even served as a "hotel" for these poor people, but the movement called too much attention. Goods don't need to be fed regularly, don't need to go to bathroom or meet relatives, so the owners decided to can the idea, it was drawing too much attention. Most of time now, it just stores containers and pallets of goods of various levels of legal status getting in or off Gotham's port. He leaned against one, trying to regain his breath. He drew his weapon, trying to stay calm. It's a building like dozens of others. No one could…
A shot hit the huge metallic box fifteen or so centimeters from him, the noise echoing in the huge open space, making it louder than it is, and causing him to drop his weapon.
"Lian, Lian." Red Hood gave a few steps in his direction, making him freeze in fear. "I have a proposal for you. I tell you what I know, you tell me what you know."
"I-I didn't do…"
"Almost four years ago, you were the driver and bodyguard of Bertie Carlyle. He died, you faced the police, the press, the accusations. Could not get your life back on tracks. Now you survive doing the odd bounty hunt or working as a bouncer. But your real career is to make bar owners richer."
"I do-don't, swear to…"
"The faster you talk, Lian, the faster you go back to your bottle. Bertie Carlyle."
FIRST NIGHT – SELINA KYLE – CATWOMAN
We all heard tales of police working with convicted hackers and serial killers to capture the ones still at lose. So, she thinks she knows very well how law works. Even so, she bought a "Detective for Utterly Incompetents" Manual. It teaches that, taking out the mentally ill from the equation, more than 90% of the crimes are done due three reasons: vengeance, sex or money. Thinking about her experience, seems about right. And she learned from pulp stories most hard-boiled detectives translate that into two lines of investigation: either follow the money or follow the woman. She decided to leave the money with the boys.
But the woman in this case is dead, so there's nothing to follow. Or there is?
A picked lock later, she was inside the apartment. Sparsely occupied for its size. Her experience lead her to the most usual places for a safe or hidden values and documents.
The question none of the boys asked was: who profits from Pauline's death? She could think of just one person.
But she found nothing. If this Caesar guy has something to hide, he's doing it very well. Until something red on a shelf caught her attention. From there, she went to the few books around. And the cabinet with the tableware. And the closet with the bed sheets.
She smiled. Now, the owner of the apartment has two reasons to kill Pauline.
"Caesar Tobias Darogham, you will cost your father a fortune on lawyer fees."
Next, the clues followed by Nightwing, Red Robin, Robin and The Signal.
How's that, so far?