Part Four
This was getting ridiculous.
His lawyers, Bruce's lawyers were going to use the 'It wasn't our boy, it was that other kid who killed the bad guy—swear to god'. They were going to strongly suggest that Dick Grayson was as pure as the driven snow and that out of control vigilante, Robin was the loose cannon whose lack of self control—or something—caused poor, deluded Dave Corby to meet his untimely end.
He sighed loudly and picked up his cell phone, hitting his contact list. "Roy, you're not going to believe this, you're not."
"Talk to me, m'friend, what's happening. 'You in jail or out?"
"Out for now but my lawyers have a strategy; they're going to explain that while Dave and I fought, it was Robin who was responsible for the poor lad's demise."
"You're shitting me."
"It gets better. They're going to call McDonald and demand to know why Robin hasn't been questioned, then they're planning to have him give a deposition."
"Robin is supposed to depped?"
"Uh-huh."
"Robin is supposed to agree to sitting, answering questions from these jokers, questions they're hoping will implicate him in murder?"
"In a nutshell."
Roy must have been in pain containing his laughter. "Yeah, good plan. Let's pin the crime on the—and it kills me to say this—let's pin it on the most popular costumed hero on the damn planet instead of the nobody blue collar ward of an idiot billionaire playboy. Wait til the press gets this one, junior."
"No kidding."
"'Bruce know about this idea?"
"'Haven't talked to him yet but I'm guessing he won't be thrilled."
It sounded like Roy was popping a can opened. "Beer?"
"Yeah. I kind of hate to bring this up but have you heard that Corby's funeral tomorrow is being covered by the press?"
"No, I hadn't heard." Nor was he surprised. Dick decided to take a look in his mini-fridge and lucked out; a can of Michelob light. "Have the Titans found anything?"
"Nothing useful, just that Corby was a semi-moron jock at Hudson on a football scholarship which he was about to lose for poor grades, which might explain why he turned to the dark side of the force with the crime thing."
"Anything on who might have really killed him?"
"A couple of ideas but nothing concrete. We're working on it."
"Yeah, well keep working, okay? I'd put my money on the guy he was working for as Raven."
"You got it."
Early the next morning Dick got a call from Donna. "We just heard from Bruce's lawyers, they want to have Robin come in for a deposition. They left a number for you to call them back and they also put it out to the press so you can't ignore it without being embarrassed."
"Good morning to you, too."
"God, sorry, Dick. This is just...you know. You know that we're doing what we can."
"I know that. Hey, don't worry, it'll be fine."
"Of course it will, honey. You take care." Later that afternoon Robin called Jim Goldman, agreeing to meet them at the local police station a nine that evening. Dick Grayson arranged to have dinner with Bruce Wayne at a local out of the way restaurant.
He, Robin, walked into McDonald's office at nine, sharp.
Goldman and Mercer both stood, holding out their hands to shake. They were ignored as Robin sat in the available chair.
"Thank you for coming, Robin. We appreciate it."
He didn't bother to respond to the pleasantries. "Shall we get started?"
"Of course. Where were you between six and eight PM April seventeenth of this year?"
"Working on a case."
"Where and which case?"
"In my current home.; I was on my computer checking forensics. The case was Raven's crimes over the last few weeks and proof I'd gathered to fill out an arrest warrant."
"'Anyone able to corroborate what you're saying?"
"I was alone but spoke with Speedy on the phone while I was working."
"Land line or cell?"
"Cell. No, I can't prove it but I'm sure that he'd sign either a statement or testify about it."
"No doubt." Jim shuffled a few papers. "Okay, when you were trying to collar this Raven character—whom we later found out was Dave Corby—did you two have any physical fights?"
"You know we did. There's film and it was on the news. It went on for about two weeks before ..."
"Before he was killed, yes. He was also recorded taunting you personally, 'that make you mad?"
"No. I get 'taunted' by a lot of criminals."
"'You're usually see in Gotham, 'you know Grayson from there?"
"I've met him at some charity things, I don't know how well I know him. It's not like we hang out or anything."
Stan stared at him, evaluating. "'Any idea who wold have had a reason to kill Corby beside you or Grayson?"
"I don't kill. But, sure there are a number of possible suspects, you know that as well as I do."
"Such as?"
"The other list of people he's managed to anger, cheat, double-cross, insult; take your pick. Before he took up with Grayson's girlfriend he dumped his own long time steady, left her pregnant. I'd think that her or her father wold be worth looking at."
"But not you."
"No, not me."
The two lawyers exchanged a look. "Just a few more questions, if you don't mind. I understand that you're friends with a number of the established hero community. If you were brought to trial on a charge like possible murder, I assume that you could call in some of your friends as character witnesses, right?"
"I suppose."
"And, being known heroes, they'd defend you—as a friend would defend a friend, right?"
Robin shrugged a yes.
"And they'd be sworn to tell the truth, no matter what the consequences might be for a member of the club, right?"
"They would tell the truth as far as they know it, yes."
"Something that Grayson can't depend on—having some of the highest profile and beloved people on the planet vouch for their fine upstanding character, right?"
"I guess—what's your point?"
"That you have a pretty free ride and Grayson may be taking a fall."
Oh for the love of... "If that were the case, which it isn't, then it would, maybe, make sense for me to take the blame for Dick, a person I've already said I barely know, instead of the other way around. If he's charged and convicted he's going to jail. If I were charge and convicted I might gain some leniency because of my 'connections'—according to your logic."
Oh, yeah. "Unless you and Dick are better friends than you're letting on." He opened a folder, inside were a stack of 8 X 20's, all of them showing both Dick Grayson and Robin at the same events.
Robin glanced through them; they'd been set up mover the years to prove that Dick and Robin were two different people just like Clark made sure to be photographed at the same things Superman was seen at. It was smoke and mirrors and sometimes doubles. "So we've been at some of the same things. I told you that it happens; Gotham isn't that big a place when you travel in some of the same circles."
"You two are just acquaintances?"
"That's right."
"Not friends?"
"No."
"You're sure?"
Robin just looked at them then, "Look, you can try to pin this on me all you want but we all know it's a shot in the dark at best. You don't think I killed Corby any more than anyone else will." He stood up, finished. "This is a non-starter. If you need anything else, you know how to get a hold of me."
The next morning at ten AM crowds gathered for Dave Corby's funeral. The media was there in full force, from TMZ to CNN and the New York Times.
The Corby's, Sonja and Ted were in black, crying, along with his two brothers. Lori Elton sat with the family, also in tears and dark glasses. After the full mass the procession made it's slow and somber way to the cemetery on the edge of New Carthage. There were several hundred Hudson students as well as a number of people from his old neighborhood, high school and local swim team. The place was packed, flowers everywhere, despite the family's request that donations be sent to the Police Benevolent Society. Dave's black lab was there as well, crying and with a black bow tied to her collar.
It was a hot day, there was little shade. The service went long as people got up to speak, a girl feinted.
Finally, as it was over and the crowd was breaking up the reporters asked quiet questions.
"How the hell do you think my wife feel, you vultures? Our son was murdered by that smart ass rich kid. Get out of our way, bastards."
"Dick Grayson? I had a class with him and ,I dunno, he seemed okay. Quiet, smart, kind of kept to himself. I guess he was, I dunno, I guess there was something going on there, y'know?"
"Grayson? He'll get off; he's rich, right?"
"What about the rumor that Robin is being questioned?"
"He's a boy scout, right? He's probably innocent, I guess."
"He's too cute to kill anyone but if he did, I bet it was about a girl."
"Yeah, well, I say that if Robin did it then his ass will be grass when Batman finds out."
"Nah, nothing will happen to him; he's a cop, right?"
"Corby? Sure I knew him, he was a jerk. I know we're not supposed to speak ill of the dead but it's true, he was a real jackass."
Dick watched the TV news shaking his head. This was a major mess.
TBC
