Chapter 1

I was tired. Exhausted was more like it actually. I had three tests today in Math, English, and History. I had a Science project due and a Spanish presentation to give. After school ended I had soccer practice until 3:30, and then a Karate match until 4. It was 4:45 now, and I was waiting at the subway station a block away from my school. I sat on a bench trying desperately not to fall asleep. Then my phone started ringing.

It didn't want to answer the phone but the screen read, Mom, and I knew I had no choice.

"Hello" I said quietly.

"Hey baby, how are you?" She sounded tired and upset. But of course she never would never let me believe that.

"Fine, Mom just tired."

"How did all the tests go? And the science project? Oh and you had that Spanish presentation today!" I could tell she wanted to talk about me so she didn't have to focus on what she was doing.

"Good, a lot of work though" I yawned a little at the end.

"Hey listen, are you at the train station?"

"Yah I am."

"Ok good, instead of coming home come to my office. I am almost down with a case and then I can take you out to dinner? Ok?" Wow, she must have been upset. Going out to dinner….that was only for rare special occasions or when she was furious at something.

"Sure. I will be there in 10 minutes."

"Ok baby. Love you, bye!"

I wondered what had gotten her so mad. And then I remembered. Today was the case about that Zaaz guy. Zaaz was one of Falcone's men who was being tried. My mom must have not been winning the case.

The train came and I proceeded to get on. I sat down in the middle of the train and closed my eyes. I tried not sleep but I was drifting in and out. Thank goodness I was able to hear the stop for "Old Gotham" and got off. Mom's office was located in Gotham's hall where the court room was, as Mom, is the Assistant District Attorney for Gotham. Thankfully the train station stop was right in front of the building so I didn't have to walk far. I said hi to the doorman, Jim, and walked through the building towards the court room.

Just then I heard "Or the corrupt!"

I looked up to see my mother coming through the door furious. She went up to a man who I recognized as Dr. Crane. Dr. Crane worked at Arkham Asslyum where all the crazies went. He must have put Mr. Zaaz in Arkham which is probably why my mom was so mad. Dr. Crane had been moving all of Falcone's men who had been tried into Arkham instead of prison.

"Mr. Finch," Dr. Kane called. "I think you should check with Ms. Dawes just what implications your office is authorized to make. If any"

My mother was going to kill him. I could sense it! She was beyond made right now an especially since he brought Mr. Finch, mom's boss, into it.

Mr. Finch walked to my mom, took her aside, and started speaking quietly to hear but I knew my mother was too angry to listen. I walked a little closer hoping mom would recognize me.

She didn't at first. I just stood there looking around. I noticed a man in an orange hootie staring at my mother. I moved closer to take a look who it was. I made eye contact with the man and then he suddenly looked away frightened that I saw his face. I became freaked out. My mother had made a lot of enemies, like Dr. Kane and Falcone, in an effort to clean up the city.

Then my mother looked at me. "I have to go Carl, goodbye."

She gave me a hug as she usually did. "Hey baby"

"Mom there was this guy" I pointed out the window to show my mother the man with the hoodie who was staring out her but he was gone. Maybe he wasn't one of Falcone's men after all, or maybe he just left and was waiting to get my mother at a different time.

"What Katie?" she obviously didn't hear me.

"Nothing" I would worry about it later.

"So how was the case?" I already knew the answer though.

"Frustrating. Kane had Zaaz moved to Arkham."

"Ouch"

"Yah, lets not talk about it now, honey. Lets go out to eat, I worked through lunch."

We ended up eating at a pizzeria not too far away from the court house. It was quick because Mom needed to get back to work. She told me I could go home if I wanted but I told her I would rather be with her. The man with the hoodie was still on my mind.

The office

Mom's office was always busy and never clean, I felt it best represented my mother. I sat down in my usual couch and started doing my homework. I basically grew up at this office. It wasn't until recently that mom would let me go home on my own. She was always worried about my safety, I couldn't blame her though. We lived in Gotham, probably the most unsafe city in the United States. Mom was plainly a workaholic. She spent more time in her office and the court room then she did at home. And when she was at home she was usually working as well. She had always said "I can still do more". It was like her way of life. She did the above and beyond for everything, especially her work, and me of course.

"I'll be working late tonight." Mom said as she came into the office. She grabbed a file and then left as quickly as she came in.

"Sure thing" I hollerd, loud enough for her to hear from the hallway.

I heard mom go into the office two doors down, Mr. Finch's office, or as I liked to called him "Lovesick Carl".

"Did you hear the news?" he asked. "Wayne's back."

"WHAT?" Mom screamed.

I jumped out of my couch and went to the Mr. Finch's office.

I stood in the doorway "Mom you ok?"

Mom looked at me with a stare as if she was seeing me for the first time. She slowly walked up to me, still giving me the intense stare. She touch my hair and then my face and just looked at me. Then she walked right past me and down the hallway.

I decided not to follow her. "Is she alright?" Mr. Finch asked me.

"I don't know. Who's Wayne?" I asked suddenly curious.

"Bruce Wayne, son of the late Thomas and Martha Wayne, and the heir to Wayne Enterprises. He was your mother's best friend."

"How were my mother and him friends?" If he was the heir to Wayne Enterprises and my grandmother was a single mother who worked as a maid I don't think they would run in the same circles.

"Your grandmother worked as a maid for the Wayne's. Your mother used to go to the Wayne's house all the time because she and Bruce were the same age, they became best friends." He explained slowly.

"What do you mean he is back?"

"Well for the last 7 years he has been declared dead."

"Oh" So why would my mother look at me weirdly. I could understand if she was shocked that her best friend had "come back from the dead" but she still acted so weird when she saw me.

I shrugged it off. "Thanks for the info, Mr. Finch. Got to go calm my mom down now I guess."

I walked back to the office and sat down on the couch. Minutes later, my mother came back. She looked like she had been hysterically crying.