[Thanks for the support, to all the readers. I have written several Batman and Robin stories, mostly based on the comic books. This is my first "Gotham" story...but check out the other stuff I've done. Especially "Son of the Joker" and "Robin at Brentwood" "The Black Mask and the Big Beautiful Woman" (Nightwing story) and the others.

IT AIN'T LIKE THE OLD DAYS

Gordon moved uncomfortably around the crowd of detectives, weeping students, and other clutter surrounding Horace "Hoss" Caffyn's stiffening body on the Mornington Academy track.

Gordon had run track for Gotham Western High, and they'd competed against the "Mornies", but fierce as the rivalry was (James "Jackrabbit" Gordon had been a front runner) there had never been drug abuse...and that was the eighties, when all the designer drugs had been around.

But Ed Nygma had just looked up and confirmed that Hoss Caffyn had been taking equipoise, and had collapsed during his first sprint. Caffyn's parents had been led away by Harvey Bullock, but they were mystified...Hoss hadn't gone to a doctor to get these prescribed.

Dr. Paget, the assistant Headmaster nudged Gordon. "I just can't understand it. All sorts of drugs seem to have sprouted here recently, and we just suffered the most peculiar spate of robberies as well."

Gordon cocked his head. "Did you report it, Dr. Paget?"

"The robberies? Well, no. In one week Ipads, Iphones, a biology teacher's diamond engagement ring, and cash from at least a dozen lockers disappeared, and then an envelope-big yellow thing- showed up in the Dean of Discipline's office, with everything returned and a typed note of apology. It was a pain in the ass figuring out whose cash was whose...since it was all lumped together-but very,very strange."

Gordon bit his tongue. He'd seen an unlikely new student in the bleachers of this track meet-Selina Kyle. How she'd gotten into Mornington was a mystery. The disappearance of the valuables could clearly be her work, but who would make her return them?"

"Detective Gordon?"

Gordon looked down, and there was young Bruce Wayne, smiling up at him. Gordon had heard from Alfred that Bruce had begun running, but the boy wasn't in track clothes...

"Are you a miler here? I understand you're pretty fast." I'm not going to bring up why I'm here, the kid can see Caffyn's body, and he's had enough murder talk to last him, Gordon thought.

"No, I'm just running and working out at home."

"You might snag a few trophies, Bruce. You have enough sense not to take anabolic steroids, like ..." But Gordon couldn't even gesture to the sixteen year old dead boy.

Gordon coughed, and continued. "I hear from Alfred that you have been taking boxing and some martial arts...I think they have a Golden Gloves group here at Mornington."

"I-I know, but I don't want to bring a lot of attention to myself." Bruce grinned awkwardly. "I'm kinda keeping it private about my workouts for now."

Gordon scratched his chin. The boy needs a father. Alfred's doing the best he can, but Bruce really needs a loving dad. Jim Gordon's dad had been a great father, and had spoiled Jim with attention, if not money. There hadn't been much of that.

"I think I know who may be selling the jocks steroids." Bruce said hesitantly. "But it might be hard to prove."

"Yes, and that's the rub, Bruce." Gordon said with a rueful smile. "I'm sure I know one major trafficker here...the kid they call the Druid. "

Gordon watched Bruce turn his head and look at the fat boy sitting on a nearby bench, lustily consuming Kung Pao Chicken out of a little white box.

"You know? You should arrest him..." Bruce's face paled. "Soon!"

"I have no proof, Bruce, and when I took it up with the administration here, I got the impression that the Druid carries a lot of influence. "

Gordon loved how Bruce, unlike many adolescents, really listened, and looked at you when you were talking. He continued, almost forgetting the dead boy and the parents, cops and other kids.

" The Druid started out as a scholarship student, and is very bright, but he has something going on. No one in the headmaster's office would discuss with me the idea of transferring him to another school, and of course they forbade me to search his locker."

Gordon remembered how Sid Solozzo, a defense attorney out of Bludhaven, had shown up at the police station and filed a harassment report with Captain Essen before she died. The kid had a lot of power.

"The problem is, Bruce, sometimes cops hands are tied. And there's not much anyone can do. It's a shame because heroin, cocaine, and a panoply of other drugs are moving through Mornington as well as six other private schools, and I think a lot of it is due to the fat little Druid."

Gordon noticed curly hair and enormous green eyes approaching, and then she whistled, and Bruce patted Gordon's arm. "I gotta go talk to Selina...but you never know what can happen. Druid may, you know, have a comeuppance."

Gordon chuckled as Bruce scuttled off to join the pretty girl...but no,no...she's putting her hand on his ASS?