Chapter 7 - Murder

Bullock stood over the body with a cup of coffee in his hand. He sipped it while he looked at the decapitated head. It gave him shivers. The eyes seemed to look up at him. For a second he thought he saw them move.

'Cripes!! Will someone shut his eyes for Pete's sake!! Montoya!! Please put a cloth on his head or somethin'. It's creeping me out!'

'Relax Sarge. This isn't some horror movie. The head's not going to come back to life. And I can't do anything now because forensic hasn't arrived yet.'

Officer Renee Montoya was Sergeant Bullocks subordinate. They both trusted each other a great deal. The only things common with them were their drive to catch the criminal and the fact that they had both worked with the Batman before. Even though Montoya looked soft on the exterior, she was known to have held her own against the likes of the Joker, Mr. Freeze and Two-Face. Bullock admired her but never showed it. This was a game between them.

'I know that!! What do ya think I'm some sort of nut or somethin'? Oh Cripes!!'

Bullock had looked towards the street and he could hear the hum of the familiar silenced engine.

'What is it?' Montoya was busy trying to contact HQ about the Forensic team.

'He's here. Cripes!! How the hell does he know?'

'Who's here? The Commissioner?'

'Who do ya think? It's him.' Bullock turned away from the street and went back to sipping his coffee.

'Oh. Well, according to our orders we have to give him our full co- operation.'

'Nuts to that!! Oh Cripes, here he comes.'

The figure in question loomed nearer to the crime scene. He didn't like not seeing the Commissioner there. His task would become harder. Although he knew Montoya would try and restrain Bullock.

'Good evening Batman' Officer Montoya was being courteous, he thought.

'Who's the victim?'

It was Bullocks turn to speak. 'The victim, Batman, is Dr. Gerhard Krauss. The richest plastic surgeon in Gotham We ID'd him from his wallet.' Bullock turned his back on the Batman and walked towards the payphone near them.

'I know who he is.' Replied Batman after a brief pause. Bruce Wayne knew him. The man was a great contributor to the various Wayne Foundation Charity Events. As far as Bruce Wayne knew the man wouldn't hurt a fly. He had no right to be murdered like this. No one did.

'What was he doing out here in the docks?' asked the Batman aloud.

'We don't know yet. Bullock is talking to the family right now.' Batman looked at Bullock and as soon as he did Bullock hung up the phone.

'Ah! I hate that part!' said Bullock through the toothpick in his mouth.

'What was he doing out here in the docks?' repeated the Batman.

Bullock shot a side glance at Batman and answered to Montoya: 'The guy left the house in the evening. Didn't return. Family members talked to the police but it was too soon to take action.' 'However', and Bullock shot another sharp glance at Batman, 'however we did ask two squad cars to keep a lookout in the area. Seems like the old man had a habit of getting lost when he walked too far.'

The Batman looked at the body. It was lying chest down.

'How long till the forensic team arrives?' Batman turned his back towards the both of them and walked nearer to the body.

'Any minute now, replied Montoya.

The Batman walked off into the distance leaving the body behind him. He was looking around for clues. The other policemen who were there got out of his way as soon as he approached them. Even though they knew he was on their side there was still something frightening about a six foot two giant Bat.

Batman looked around the pier but could find nothing. He would only learn more once the forensic team arrived. Fortunately it arrived just then.

'Oh no. Not another one!' The coroner had seen a lot of death in his day but once in a while he would still be shocked. 'Oh, well. Might as well get to work.'

The coroner examined the body and the back. 'Hmmm. The head has been severed at the base of the neck and the cut came from behind. Also the blade went right through the bone. It's exactly the same as last time.'

The coroner turned the body over on its back and the bloody chest was revealed:

Somebody save me! Batman!