AUTHOR'S NOTE: So, somehow I passed 20,000 words. Thanks for all the support that I've been given. This is based on Detective Comics #647-649 by Chuck Dixon.
It's Tim's third month of actually being Robin, he had to train for half a year before actually becoming Robin. Bruce made a new suit for him and he loves it. He loves just swinging around the city.
His comm begins buzzing and he taps the button, patching him through to Batman. "Hey what's up?" Tim asks.
"Gordon wants to talk, he said he got something in the mail that we should see." Bruce answers.
"Ok, I'm at my house right now, it should take me ten minutes at most to get there."
"Ok see you then." Bruce replies.
Tim hangs up the communicator and goes over to his house's shed. He hops into his car, The Redwing. He starts the ignition and starts driving off towards the police station.
When he arrives he sees Bruce waiting for him on the building adjacent to the police headquarters. Tim grapples up to the building to stand next to Bruce. "Ready?" Tim asks. And Bruce nods in response. They swing over to Gordon's window and enter.
He has his back turned to them at the moment and is putting out his cigar. He turns around to see the two figures and jumps, "Jesus Christ! Ten years I've been working with you, and I still haven't gotten used to this."
"What did you get in the mail," Bruce asks, going straight to business.
"This," Gordon says handing Bruce a plastic bag with a cut piece of paper, that has a picture on it, inside. Bruce takes it and examines it. "It also came with this," Gordon says giving Tim a paper that reads in all caps, 'Catch me if you can!'
"I'll look into it. For now though, we have to wait for the other clues." Bruce tells him.
"How do you know there will be other clues?" Gordon asks.
Bruce turns away and opens up Gordon's window, "Because it's cut into the shape of a puzzle piece." Bruce says jumping out the window.
Tim looks at the Commissioner for a minute, "Good day Commissioner." And with that, Tim follows his mentor and jumps out the window.
Tim meets Bruce on the building they had met on earlier. "So what's next?" Tim asks.
"Next, we go to the Batcave and examine who the culprit could be," Bruce explains. They both hop off the building, each landing in their own respective cars. "Meet you there," Bruce says over the comms.
When Tim arrives back at the Batcave, Bruce is already there sitting in front of the computer. Tim points to the screen, "The usual suspects?" Bruce nods in response. "The Riddler, Joker, and… who's that last guy?" Tim asks.
"The Cluemaster."
"Never heard of him, and I followed all of your adventures since I was five." Tim says.
"He was an earlier foe of mine. I fought him once when you were a lot younger. From this list though, I can discount Riddler, since he's in Blackgate. Joker is still in Arkham after," Bruce swallows hard, "what he did. So that leaves Cluemaster. I never actually cared enough to even try to deduce his identity, and he never told anyone at Blackgate. Although I doubt they are his clues, we should still track him down. It's not going to be hard though," Bruce finishes.
Bruce punches something into the computer cross referencing the mug shot of The Cluemaster with all pictures online. In big bold words, the word MATCH, popped up on the screen. "Arthur Brown." Bruce announces.
"Let's go have a chat with Mr. Brown," Tim says. Bruce nods. They begin walking over to the Batmobile.
Alfred begins walking down the stairs. "Master Bruce, supper is ready."
"Keep it warm," Tim shouts from the Batmobile, "we'll be back in ten! Thanks!" Alfred just shakes his head and heads back up the stairs and into the mansion.
They arrive at the destination and see Arthur Brown. His long, bright blonde hair in a ponytail made him stand out. Bruce starts gliding after him, and Tim follows suit. Arthur Brown sees them and begins running. He vaults over a car, but Bruce is in front of him.
"You look scared, Arthur," Bruce growls, glaring at Arthur.
"Yeah, isn't that the point of the costume?" Arthur asks in return.
"What about your costume Arthur, has it been getting any use as of late?" Bruce asks.
"Why the hell would it? I'm straight now. I was sick, but now I'm cured. Hell, I'm not even on parole. Prison helped me. it freed me from my delusions."
"I'm going to believe you Arthur. Trust me I don't want to be in your life anymore than you want to be in mine," Bruce says grappling away. Tim follows suit.
They head over to the police station to talk to Gordon. They enter silently, but this time Gordon sees them enter. "You have anything new?" Bruce asks.
"A couple of more puzzle pieces," Gordon explains motioning towards the now mostly finished puzzle. "It's clearly a Castle, but what isn't supposed to symbolize?"
"Well there's a monkey castle at the Gotham Zoo, and Castle Electronics has its headquarters in Victoria's Place." Tim lists.
"I'll check them out," Bruce tells them.
"I'll come," offers Tim.
"No, it's a school night, you should get at least three hours of sleep." Bruce tells him.
Tim looks sad and then Commissioner Gordon's walkie talkie goes off. "Vandalism at Medical Center on Robinson Square. Says, 'Let the puzzlement fit the crime.'"
The next few weeks more puzzles appear on buildings that are vacated at night. Tim and Bruce go to discuss this with Commissioner Gordon. Tim looks over the pictures, "'Where do lumberjacks go shopping'? 'A kind of jam that's not on bread'? 'It's closed when it's open and open when it's closed'? Some of these are easy."
"If we are to assume that whatever is going down is happening Labor Day weekend, then we don't have much time. Let's do this the old fashioned way," Bruce decides.
"Let me know if you…" Gordon turns around to see the empty room, "find anything.
Bruce and Tim begin questioning thugs until their searches lead to Jimmy Wing. "A Tex-Mex restaurant? Funny business for you." Bruce says.
"So I don't like Chinese food who cares? What brings you round here? I'm not in the gang no more." Jimmy declares.
"There's something happening this weekend, what is it?" Bruce growls.
"Like I said, I'm not in gang no more, I have no connections."
"You see, I don't believe you," Bruce says. Just then a man with a cleaver begins meaning up behind Bruce. Tim jumps out from the shadows, kicking the man in the face. Then Tim elbows the man in the face and kicks him in the stomach. The man falls over in pain. "That the best you got?"
"Fine, some guy named Arthur Brown is pulling something, but I don't know nothing more," Jimmy admits.
Bruce and Tim head out and jump in the Batmobile. Once in the car, Bruce calls Gordon, "Gordon, I have someone confirming that Arthur Brown is behind this get a warrant. You're about to have a good arrest."
"Ok Batman. I'll get right on that warrant."
An hour later Bruce and Tim stand across from the apartment building that Arthur Brown is in. The police sirens are going off as officers pull up to the building. Bullock and Montoya lead the charge.
"Arthur Brown, this is the police! We have a warrant for your arrest, we are coming in!" Bullock shouts as they bust down the door. They enter.
"Batman and Robin, how unexpected…" Arthur Brown says.
"GET OUT NOW!" Montoya shouts. They all run out as quick as possible.
Robin sees a figure running across the rooftops as he and Batman watch the police bust. "B, that may be one of Cluemaster's partners, I'm going after him."
"Go!" Batman shouts in response.
Tim continues following the cloaked figure. As he gets closer he sees that the outfit is a bright purple. He gets really close and he seizes his chance. He tackles the figure. When he lands on the figure he realizes the person underneath isn't built in the chest area. He starts tearing off the mask and is surprised at what he sees.
Long blonde hair and pink lipstick on the culprit. She uses the confusion to hit Tim in the head with a nearby brick. He falls off of her and she runs.
While Tim is chasing after the suspect, the room that Cluemaster was in explodes. Bullock and Montoya barely get out in time. As soon as Bruce sees the explosion he swings towards the fire.
Montoya runs back into the building and begins helping get people out. When Bruce gets in the building, he begins doing the same. Once he is done, he goes back to the roof. When he doesn't see Tim, he begins looking for him. He finds him rubbing the back of his head on the rooftop.
"What happened?" Bruce asks concerned.
"I don't want to talk about it." Tim says getting in the car. Bruce gets in and without saying another word begins driving back to the Batcave.
Tim sits at the computer thinking over the clues. "Master Timothy, what are you doing?"
"Trying to figure out the last of Cluemaster's clues," Tim explains.
"But I thought that Cluemaster died in the explosion," Alfred says.
"They haven't found a body yet, plus if the cloaked figure was working with him, then the plan might still be happening."
"I understand that the hooded figure turned out to be a young lady," Alfred says. Tim grumbles an answer. "It's also in my understanding that she overpowered you."
This comment gets Tim to pay more attention. "She did not overpower me, she surprised me!"
"Mmm hmm," Alfred hums in response.
"She did!" Tim shouts.
"I was not contradicting you." Alfred says behind a smirk.
"Yeah, sure." Tim mumbles. "Anyway I just can't figure out the last clue, 'when it's closed it's open, and when it's open it's closed.'"
"It's a drawbridge," Bruce answers. "And I've figured that the target was the opening of Castleland Park Mall. For Labor Day they are holding a telethon, there will be millions in cash. Now," Bruce says looking at Tim, "I want you to go to bed, and then tomorrow you will look into the girl who you met on the rooftops." Tim nods and leaves.
In the morning, Tim heads to the Batcave to start looking into the person who he 'bumped into' last night. He gets to the computer and checks Blackgate records. He checks for anyone who visited Arthur Brown. Under the visitors is an Agnes Bellinger. He looks up the name Agnes Bellinger using the Batcomputer and finds that there is a bank account under that name. He decides to call Barbara who's hacking abilities are superior to his own, "Hey," Tim says when she picks up.
"Hey Tim," Dick answers on the other line. Tim's eyes widen.
"Dick, you know this isn't your phone right?" Tim asks nonchalantly.
Tim can just imagine how Dick looks at the moment. "Yeah, of course I do," he answers after a minute." Dick pulls the phone away from his mouth, but Tim still hears him start talking to Barbara, "Babs, I may or may not have just answered your phone. It's Tim by the way." Dick hands the phone to Barbara.
"How's it going Barbara, have fun last night?" Tim asks smiling.
"What do you need Tim?" Barbara asks.
"Oh yeah, well, you're hacking abilities are like a hundred times better than mine, and I need your help."
"What do you need?" Barbara says getting in her wheelchair and wheeling over to the supercomputer.
"Can you look into the bank account of an Agnes Bellinger? Like look for house payments. Or something like that, because I can't find any house owned by this person, so I'm hoping there is some evidence."
"Of course Tim," Barbara says cracking her fingers. He hears the sound of her fingers tapping the keyboard. "No house payments, but there are transfers to a Miss Crystal Brown."
"Would you be able to get her address for me?" Tim asks.
"Yeah I'll send it to your GPS. And Tim?"
"Yeah Babs?"
"You will not speak a word of what happened before I picked up the phone to anyone."
"Of course, by Barbara." Tim says before hanging up. He gets in his car and heads to the address. When he gets to the address he sees the blonde girl that was on the rooftop with him. He pulls out his laptop and finds out that her name is Stephanie Brown and she is the daughter of Crystal Brown and Arthur Brown.
He waits until night, then changes into his Robin costume. When he sees her start driving off on a motorcycle, so he jumps on the back of the bike. "This is a cool bike! How old do you have to be to own one of these?" Tim asks her. She turns her head to look at him, causing her to crash into a bush.
"You okay?" Tim asks her.
"Fine," she huffs. "What do you want?"
"I want to know what your father is up to." Tim says.
"You know that he's…" she starts.
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean you should help him."
"I wasn't helping him!" She shouts defensively. "I hate him! I want to see him rot in jail!"
"You were the one who sent the clues," Tim says, sounding like the pieces in his head just clicked.
"Wow, what a detective," Stephanie replies in mock compliment.
"Enough of one to know that there is a strong possibility that your father is still alive."
Her eyes widen in, horror? "If he is I'll find him. He'll be trying to pull off his stupid heist."
"Castleland Park right?" Tim asks.
"Maybe you really are a detective," Stephanie compliments smiling. She gets on the motorcycle.
"If you want even a chance of taking him, then you will need my help," Tim tells her. He hops on the back seat of the motorcycle. And they ride off to rondevu with Batman.
They stand on the building as Bruce debriefs Stephanie, "The autopsy has yet to come back with the identity of the blast victim. But what we do know, is that it wasn't Arthur Brown."
"I bet they used the Cutter Shark's corpse. He was the leader of the gang before my dad killed him. They probably realized I was listening in, so they only let me hear what they wanted me to," Stephanie explains. "I do know though that they will be robbing the place at the climax of the telethon, when the most money will be onsite."
"You did good for yourself. What do you call yourself?" Bruce asks.
"Well… I guess… Spoiler."
"I like that," Bruce replies smirking.
"Now let's go SPOIL my dad's plans!" Stephanie shouts.
Tim gives himself a facepalm, "You ruined the moment."
They all swing off the building together. Stephanie tries to get in the Batmobile. "You're not coming with us Stephanie."
"Why not?" She shouts offended. "He needs to be punished! He deserves to get his plans spoiled!"
"This is not just a vendetta, there are innocent lives at risk!" Bruce growls.
"Why's he get to go?" Stephanie complains pointing at Tim.
"I'm not going to argue over this, tell me what you know so I can take down your father!"
"Ok, fine here's his plan," Stephanie starts.
After she is done explaining Bruce and Tim get in the Batmobile and begin driving off. When they arrive at the telethon, a smoke bomb had just been dropped. The costumed characters take off their disguises, and are revealed to be Cluemaster and his goons,
Bruce and Tim split up taking the goons. Bruce glides and kicks one in the face. Tim does a flip over one then punches the goon in the stomach. When he doubles over in pain Tim kicks off the stage. Bruce goes after Cluemaster and Robin fights the last two goons.
He doesn't see one of them immediately, and they stab him in the back of the leg with a knife. Tim uses his bow staff to knock out the thug. The last thug picks up the knife and goes to stab Tim in the throat. Tim holds the man's arms up, but the man is bigger than he is, and it's getting harder to hold him up.
BANG! BANG! SWAT emerges on the scene and shoot the thug dead before he can kill Tim. Tim stares horrified with the thug's blood all over him and his costume. One of the officers walks over to Tim, "You okay kid?"
"Yeah… I guess," Tim responds. Just then a transport helicopter busts through the glass ceiling and lowers cables. Cluemaster attaches the cable to the container with the money inside and the helicopter begins flying. Bruce grapples onto it, as does an unexpected guest.
As Bruce climbs up he notice that Stephanie is on top fighting thugs. When she finishes taking them out, Cluemaster grabs ahold of her. He holds the gun to her temple, "Take another step and your partner gets their brains used as paint!"
"Don't do it! You will instantly regret it!"
"And why is that? Will you hurt me afterward? Perhaps I will feel bad because of my suppressed humanity?" Cluemaster asks.
"No because she is your daughter." Bruce says.
Cluemaster's eyes widen as he rips the mask off of Stephanie. "What… Stephanie? Wh… why?"
"Because you destroyed my life!" She shouts punching him. She takes a chain on the ground and begins strangling her father.
"Stephanie, don't!" Bruce shouts.
"Why shouldn't I?" She asks intrigued at the answer he will give.
"Because he hurt you. But if you end him, it won't be him who ruined your life. It will be you." She drops the chain letting him breathe. She puts on her mask as the police helicopters begin swarming the scene. And her and Batman depart.