A/N: Tim is six years old and he just finished 1st Grade. While out on a school picnic Tim is taken by an unknown kidnapper. Can Batman and Robin find him before it's too late?
Cliff Hanger
by
AJ
Part 7
"You incompetent!" Commissioner Gordon yelled. "I should bust you down to beat cop! You should have been able to handle a simple kidnapping! You didn't even look for clues!"
"I'm sorry, Commissioner," Detective Bulluck tried to apologize. "But there weren't any clues to find."
"Sorry doesn't cut it, Detective. Now I need you out there searching for the man responsible. We got an anonymous tip on the vehicle. I want a run on the plates."
"Why should I? You probably have your pet caped creep doing it for us."
"That's it!" Commissioner Gordon picked up the phone and dialed the squad room. "I've had enough of your disrespect. Chief O'Hara, report to my office."
"I'm sorry Commissioner, but Chief O'Hara is still working on those budge reports that you assigned him."
"Very well, I'll take care of it myself. You are, as of this moment Detective Bulluck, demoted!"
"What!?" Bulluck was incensed. "I worked too hard for this."
"Solving cases that even a dog catcher could solve doesn't make you a detective," Commissioner Gordon stated. "Now out of my office and get into a uniform. You're walking a beat until further notice!"
GBGBGBGBGBG
Bruce took the two suitcases of money with the tracking and listening devices and had Alfred drive him to the spot where he was to meet the kidnapper.
"Stop right there, Mr. Drake," a man came out of the shadows holding a shotgun and aiming it at the limo as it drove up.
Bruce realized the kidnapper didn't know Mr. Drake from sight. He just chose a boy at random. Or did he? He would have to play along to ensure that Tim was safe. "Alfred, take precautions while I deal with this person."
"Very good, Sir."
"Out of the car, Mr. Drake."
Bruce cautiously exited the car with the two suitcases.
"Here's your money, now where is my son?" Bruce said, and his heart suddenly ached. This could be his boy, but at the same time, Dick was resourceful and trained. He would have found a way to escape.
'Very good Mr. Drake, I didn't think you were capable of raising that much cash."
"Who are you?" Bruce questioned.
"Don't you remember me, Mr. Drake?"
"No, I don't," Bruce kept the man talking.
"I'm one of ten employees you fired after 20 years of service. We were supposed to get our pensions. With this we'll be able to live in style."
"I doubt that," Bruce questioned in his mind if that was even the truth. Jack Drake took care of his employees. A portion of the profits went into his employee's pension as bonus money. For that many to be fired all at once they would have to do something horrific; unless, it's only one employee who was caught. Even so, the boy was the issue here. He needed to know where to find Timothy.
"Where is Timothy, what have you done with him?"
"Oh, the boy?" The man said nonchalantly. "The boy's fine. I might just keep him for a little longer."
"Why!?" Bruce yelled. "He's never done any harm to you!"
"Oh it's not what he's done, it's what he represents."
"I don't understand," Bruce said. It was an opportunity to learn more about this man's motives, and out of the corner of his eye, Bruce could see movement in the car.
"You see Mr. Drake, because of your negligence, my boy died. You were supposed to help him. I was supposed to receive the medical insurance that would save his life, only he was denied. Pre-existing condition, they said. Then my boy lost his sight and he didn't see the cliff. I couldn't get to him fast enough."
Bruce could imagine what must have happened. The boy, being blind, had fallen to his death. 'The man blames me . . . I mean he blames Jack Drake. There's got to be a way to find Timothy.' Bruce had to act fast. "I am sorry for your loss, but the amount of money will not ease that pain or bring him back."
"Maybe not," The man said. "But I'll have the satisfaction knowing you'll suffer as I have suffered."
The man came forward with the gun and waved Bruce aside.
"Your driver can take me to the airport."
"I think not," Alfred came up behind the man and struck him with a club that he kept in the limo for emergencies. The man fell like a stone.
"Thank goodness, Alfred."
"Well you did have me crawl out the back window on the other side. It was a good idea to keep the curtains closed."
"I didn't know if someone might spot me and shout out my name. I was counting on the fact that Tim's kidnapper didn't know Mr. Drake by sight."
"That was quite a risk, Sir."
"Come on, we need to let Robin know where to find Tim."
"Have you deduced where he's located?"
"The only area where there are cliffs is Gotham Point. When the man mentioned his blind son falling from a cliff, I remember reading about that tragedy from last year."
"Really, Sir?"
"The boy's name was Timothy Emerson."
"My word, and the poor man kidnapped Timothy Drake not only because of the boy's name, but he blames Mr. Drake for the boy's tragic loss. I could not help but overhear everything, Sir."
"Yes."
Bruce put the two suitcases back in the car then called Commissioner Gordon to have the man picked up.
"I thought there were two men involved," Gordon questioned.
"Apparently not. It was just one man," Bruce stated in his gravelly voice as Batman.
"Well that's good news, Batman, but what about the boy?"
"Robin is on his way out to Gotham Point to rescue him. The butler, Alfred and Mr. Wayne are guarding the man. He'll be waiting for you when you get here."
"Very good. I'll have Chief O'Hara send out a couple of officers to pick him up."
Bruce hung up the phone then signaled Robin to come down from the roof where he had been watching. Robin climbed down then got on his motor-scooter and drove up to meet Bruce at the limo.
"I kept a good watch to make sure there wasn't anyone else."
A couple of by-standards saw the trio and started watching them. What was Robin doing talking to the man and his chauffer? What were they doing here in the waterfront district? Bruce noticed they were being watched and he caught himself before calling out Robin's true identity.
"Very good, Robin," Bruce stated. "Careful old chum, we're being watched. You need to head to Gotham Point."
"Gotcha, Gotham Point, why there?" Robin spoke a little louder. "I mean, why there Mr. Wayne?"
"Because I learned that's where you'll find Timothy Drake."
"Holy Cliff Hanger!"
"I'm going to return the money to Gotham National Bank. Take the boy to police headquarters. I'll meet you there."
"Right away, Mr. Wayne."
"Thank Batman for your help."
"I will." Robin stated then he got on his motor-scooter and sped away. Gotham Point was ten miles from his location. It was going to take him about 30 minutes to get there. He hoped Timothy would hold on until then.
Continues wit Part 8
