Chapter Two: The First Movement
Wally West was the most popular member of the morning shift at the forensics lab. He had never won employee of the month because of his strange habit of disappearing for stretches of time, but that was all right because everyone believed that Wally arrived every morning before 6:00am.
No one knew for sure. The security cameras - for reasons no one understood or bothered to change – automatically shut off at 3am, about two hours before the evening shift went home. The cameras came back on at 9am, when the morning shift started. Wally was always in the lab at nine and based on the amount of work he had done, most people assumed he arrived not long after the evening shift went home.
Wally actually arrived at 8:30am where he worked for 20 minutes at his preferred pace. Paperwork literally flew off his desk, samples were put on slides and identified. By the time the cameras clicked on, everything that didn't require a timed experiment was done.
He worked this way because he loved his job. He learned that as long as he pulled his weight around the lab, people were willing to put up with his quirks. In fact, he noticed that he got so much done in the mornings that some of his co-workers came in closer to 10am because, they claimed, there was usually nothing to do until then.
So, when Andrew Lantz, the technician on his first day, walked in at 8:58am, Wally was surprised but not caught. He always gave himself a ten minute window before the cameras were supposed to come on, just in case.
"Hi," Lentz said, trying not to appear nervous. "I heard you would probably be the only one here when I arrived. I'm Andrew. Andrew Lantz. You can call me 'Andy.'"
Wally smiled and put a sample in a spinner – one of those tests that took ten minutes no matter how fast you are.
"Hey, Andy. I'm Wally," he said focusing on his work but trying to appear welcoming. "I like to get stuff done when it is quiet."
Andy smiled. He was tall, Wally noticed. He had that round face and pleasant features which meant he would get carded at bars forever and everyone would call him "cute" and never "handsome." He had the lean build of a runner. Wally suspected, once he got his bearings, Andrew would be much more confident. The word had been that they were very lucky to have hired him away from his corporate lab position.
"I'm a morning person too," Andy said.
There was an awkward moment while they both waited for the other to do something. Wally realized that he should probably stop waiting on the spinner and show Andrew around.
"This has got a few minutes left," Wally said. "Let me show you around. You probably want to know where your locker is."
Andy nodded and followed.
"If all goes well," Wally said. "There will be a locker with your name on it. Whether or not we actually get so lucky," he purposefully let his voice trail off as they reached the door of the locker room.
He showed Andy his locker, which actually had been marked and left him alone to get his stuff stowed. When Andy returned, Wally spent the morning showing him the equipment and going over some protocols. Andy knew his way around a lab though, by lunch time Andy was doing things on his own.
Wally snacked all morning. In fact, his lab coat was full of granola bars and other highly portable food. But by lunch, he was more than ready for some more food. He usually volunteered to make a run for everyone to the nearby deli where he could order and eat a few sandwiches before coming back and eating his "lunch" with everyone else. Today, when the others were giving Wally their orders, Andy stepped over to him.
"This is a lot to get," Andy said. "I'll go with you and help you lug it back."
Wally tried to appear as if pleased by this friendly offer but he was frantically trying to figure out a nice way of turning him down. He was hungry.
"You don't need to. I do this every day," Wally said.
Andy waved his hand in dismissal of the comment. "I could use a few minutes out of here. And besides, I need to know where this place is in case you are on vacation or something."
Wally realized he was beat. There was no logical way to refuse this offer. Between the food in his locker and the food still in his lab coat, he could probably make it if he a sandwich with extra meat and cheese.
Besides, there was no harm in being nice to the new guy.
Batman had missed the meeting during which they had discussed the letter to Flash. Diana took it upon herself to stop by the Batcave to get his opinion of the situation. As Flash had said "his paranoia would really be handy right now."
When she visited only on business, she made sure to wear her armor. It was a silent way of making clear the "business" and "couple" time. Since she was visiting after his patrol, she put on her armor for this visit. Admit it or not, he would be tired. They could arrange a date to meet later.
He was sitting at the computer. His Batsuit was on but the cowl was off and sitting on a space specifically designed for that purpose. On the large screen in front of him was what appeared to be a driver's license photo of a red-haired woman and some biographical information.
"Good morning, Princess," he said softly without looking at her.
She walked over behind him and placed her hand on his shoulder. He looked tired and there were some small cuts on his chin, but she knew better than to ask. He took her hand and squeezed it gently.
"Good morning," she said. "Flash has gotten a threatening letter."
"Do you have it?" he asked, again without facing her.
"I do. I brought the original," she said. She didn't move her hand off his shoulder, but with the other hand, placed it and some other pages on the table next to his cowl.
"Did you bring J'onn's findings report too?" he asked.
"It is under the letter."
He nodded. Diana stood for a moment, waiting for him to look at the letter or the report. But he didn't. He continued to watch the screen and search for more information. She could not fathom how the woman could be a higher priority than Flash's letter. Unless she was much more dangerous than she looked. She took her hand off his shoulder.
"Is there some information on her I should take back to the League?" Diana asked.
"No, Princess," he said dryly. "This is Bruce's date for a gala tonight. Although as an example of how not to set up a fake personal history, it might have some use."
She suppressed her annoyance. Flash's issue, while perhaps not extreme at the moment, had much more potential for trouble than getting background on a woman.
"I am certain the League has experts on setting up personal histories," she said simply.
He finally turned to face her. He was studying her intently. She met his eyes. Finally, clearly getting the information he wanted from her face, he broke eye contact.
"Her history is just too perfect," he said. "It has everything one would expect from a personal history. She had some credit trouble in college, but straightened it out. She bought a townhouse five years after that long at her job out of college. She got a speeding ticket when she was 17 but nothing but parking tickets since. Everything about this history is appropriate and probable and very formulaic."
"So, who is she then?" Diana asked.
"Between this, her abnormal interest in the Wayne Enterprises philanthropic work and her claim to be a journalist, I suspect she is attempting corporate espionage, trying to get to the books through an innocent door. But it is a theory I will enjoy testing."
Diana nodded. It was clearly time for her to leave. He was working on a puzzle and he was going to work on it until he solved it. She wanted to ask about a date, but that seemed desperate and beneath her. She kissed him gently on the cheek and turned to leave.
"This really doesn't bother you," Batman said.
Diana turned back towards him. "I am more worried about Flash than Wayne Enterprise secrets so I would prefer you focus on the letter, but Flash is in no immediate danger and the gala is tonight so discovering her goals is naturally your higher priority."
Diana was surprised to see some amusement flicker in his eyes.
"That wasn't the 'this' I was referring to, but it does serve as a confirmation," he said.
Suddenly the conversation with Green Lantern came back to her. She smiled.
"That? It doesn't," she said. "Especially if it can help discover someone threatening Wayne Enterprises."
He didn't answer but continued to watch her reactions. She had not, when she suggested the plan to have Bruce Wayne date again, considered that she would be under Batman's scrutiny as he observed her for any sign of jealously, anger or regret. She may have reconsidered the plan had she realized it.
"You called her 'Bruce's date,' not 'my date,'" she said firmly. "When you think of me, I'm not 'Bruce's lover' or 'Batman's lover' but 'my lover'. As long as that continues, I won't be bothered. And if my title becomes one of those others in your mind, our relationship will end immediately."
With that, she left the Batcave.
"He sent a note?" Flash squawked. "A note?"
No one had seen Batman since Diana's visit three days earlier.
Superman nodded. Flash had gotten another letter so the League Founders, minus Batman, were meeting again to see if there was something else to learn.
"And it says?" Green Lantern asked, trying to get the topic to move from Batman's absence.
Superman looked at his portable computer. "'One addition to J'onn's findings: the paper is different from that used at either Flash's home or lab nor is it the kind used at the Watchtower. This is not a joke.'"
Flash, who had been eating during the reading started to choke. A firm pounding from Superman was required before Flash could speak again.
"He thought I wrote it?" Flash said, between gasps for breath. "Seriously? No wonder he didn't come. When I see him next, I am going," his voice trailed off in mid-rant but his hands clenched and made threatening motions.
Superman looked at Flash with some sympathy. "In any event, we have a new letter now, which based on the evidence has come from the same person."
They all looked in silence at the letter in the middle of the table.
"I'm going to tell everyone," it said.
"I would suggest he hide here but if Wally West disappears, it only confirms this person's suspicion," Diana said. "I also would recommend he travel with a League member, but the only person I can think of would be J'onn and I don't think he ought to be away from the Watchtower that long."
There were silent nods of agreement.
"Why don't you hang out with me, Wondy," Flash said between bites. "It would be extremely good for my image."
She glared at him.
"Okay, but it might be worth blowing my identity for everyone to think that Wally West somehow caught your attention."
"Really?" Diana asked, doubtfully.
"Well no, but allow me to indulge in the fantasy for a minute."
He ate another sandwich in about three bites with his eyes closed. When he swallowed, he opened his eyes.
"Okay, fantasy over. Thanks."
Green Lantern frowned. "Flash, you really have to stop bringing food to these meetings."
"It isn't my fault! This new guy wants to go on the lunch runs with me. It's like he won't leave me alone. I am so hungry all the time."
The rest of the members gave Flash a meaningful look.
"Andy? No. It's not him. He's just trying to be nice."
The meaningful looks gained some intensity.
Flash scowled. "Contrary to popular belief, I'm not an idiot. The first letter came before Andy started at the lab and I had no interaction with him or his old company before then."
"We should give him a camera," J'onn said. A tiny, wearable camera that could allow us to see who is coming into contact with him regularly. Then we could put together a list of likely suspects. A different perspective would help."
Superman nodded enthusiastically. "That is what we will do. In the meantime, I will keep a close eye on the media wires to make sure that Flash's identity is not sent out that way."
On that note, the meeting broke. Diana stood with the others to leave, but Superman looked at her.
"Wonder Woman, could I have a minute?" he said lightly.
"Of course," she said and leaned against the table.
When they were alone, he looked sternly at her. "What is our bat friend up to?" he asked.
"He believes Wayne Enterprises is being threatened by a spy," she answered.
Superman looked at her for a minute. "When we talked about his findings, he didn't sound right. Something more than a corporate spy is on his mind. He isn't going to tell me, no matter how close we are. I don't think he is going to tell you either but I think we need to activate your public relations role."
It was decided that there needed to be a member of the Justice League who could appear at public events when necessary. Superman usually filled that role, as he was loved by everyone. However, it wasn't always possible for him because sometimes he needed to be at an event as Clark Kent. So, it was decided that Diana, who didn't have a secret identity and was extremely popular in her own right, would handle that role.
Diana groaned. "That is a waste of my time."
"Usually, I'd agree, but I want someone to keep an innocent eye on him before he has some sort of dark episode. Please, Diana. I have seen him when he gets like that and I never want to see it again. I'd like to just nip it in the bud."
The concern on his face was clear. While her history with Batman was much more intense, Superman and Batman had known each other for longer and there certainly was a lot that Superman knew about the Dark Knight that Diana simply didn't. If Superman was concerned, it was important to investigate.
"All right," she said. "Where am I going and when?"
Superman smiled. "Tonight. We've been invited to the opening of the new Gotham Crime Center. It's a black tie fund raiser." He handed her the invitation, printed on thick ivory paper.
She looked at him sternly. "He is going to know why I am there. He is going to know I'm there to watch him."
Superman smiled. "Of course. Better angry than brooding."
She didn't return the smile. But they both knew she was going to go.
