Chapter 13
"A rousing night for Gotham PD today as the mysterious crime lord, Black Mask was apprehended and unmasked," anchorman Alexander Knox reported with an overly serious look on his chiseled and polished face. "Identified as Roman Sionis, son and successor of Richard Sionis, was arrested at Lacey Towers at approximately four-ten in the morning today. He was found hanging upside down fourty-three stories outside of his penthouse office with a cable around his leg tied to the balcony. When asked if this astounding occurrence was at all related to the mysterious vigilante known as 'the Bat-Man,' Police Commissioner Gillian Loeb had this to say."
The image of Gotham Action News' primped anchorman changed to a press conference outside of the GCPD headquarters. In front of the stone steps leading up to the glass, double doored entrance was a single wooden podium with five differently marked microphones all aimed at the mouth of the tall, round figure of the commissioner. His dark, double breasted suit was finely pressed and accented with a blaring red tie. Worn on the golden buttoned pocket of his jacket was his shined badge. Commissioner Loeb knew how to look good in front of a camera, providing the ultimate façade of complete reassurance and power. Not a single black whisker of his mustache was out of place and even the dark dome of his bald head seemed polished. On his flanks were other uniformed police officers in their navy blue uniforms.
"The arrest of Mr. Sionis, a.k.a. the Black Mask was done with supreme, police intelligence and the execution of a well coordinated plan that resulted in a zero casualty raid on his area of operations."
"Is it now common police practice to leave criminals hanging upside down?" blurted a reporter from the assembly off camera. Loeb ignored him and waved with a politician's smile.
"Thank you, no further questions." The image changed back to the anchorman.
"In other news, Bruce Wayne, the son of Thomas and Martha Wayne, has returned to Gotham City after ten years abroad. Gotham's most elusive billionare flew into Gotham International from Costa Rica today, arriving at ten-fifteen in the morning. According to representatives of the Wayne Foundation, the purpose of Mr. Wayne's ten year departure was to complete his formal education and to, quote, 'find himself.'" Knox's smug eyebrow raise said it all. "When asked to comment by Reporter, Viki Vale, on Gotham's hottest topic, the Batman, the eccentric billionaire had this to say." Once again the image changed to a congested gathering of excited reporters crowded around one man. He was tall and broad, filling out his black trench coat. His clean, young face seemed far older than he really was by his strong, square jaw, his eyes hidden behind large, dark wireframe sunglasses. One reporter managed to muscled her way to his side, holding a microphone out for him.
"Bruce, any thoughts on the mysterious Batman?" Viki Vale asked. Bruce Wayne gave the microphone an estranged look.
"The 'Batman?' sounds like he could use a publicist," he responded. It was off the cuff, thoughtlessly ignorant. The image changed back to the anchorman but Jim Gordon was done paying attention. He vigorously pressed the mute button on the remote, silencing the small TV set on the bar outside the kitchen. He set the remote down and rubbed his eyes from under the lenses of his glasses.
"My first day off since I don't know how long," he muttered as he leaned back in the chair. From around the corner of the counter, his daughter Barbara approached the dining table with two plates in her hands. She set the plate of eggs and bacon in front of her father then sat down across from him. "I don't want to talk or even hear about any 'Bat-Man' for the next forty-eight hours," he sighed. His eyes set on his Daughter from across the table, a mug of hot apple cider hiding the amused smile on her face. She lowered the mug, still watching him from behind her own glasses. "Barbara," Jim said warningly.
"So is 'he' real?" she asked enthusiastically. Gordon groaned. "He is, isn't he!" she pressed on. Jim stared at her with a warning look.
"He isn't a hero, he's a criminal, and he'll be arrested just like Maroni and Sionis."
"But he brought them to justice!" she argued. Gordon gawked at her, it wasn't often that Barbara came at odds with her father.
"Barb, I firmly believe that justice can still be served within the bounds of the law."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," he voice faded off as she took another sip of her apple cider. As Gordon set to eat his breakfast, cutting away at the strip of bacon, his mind wandered. With Black Mask behind bars, he was bound to have a new target, the Batman.
TO BE CONTINUED…