Chapter 13

Leroy S. Prevost was forty-eight years old. He had two adult kids still living at home, retirement was years away and he had no savings.

The no savings was now in the past. He had something. The first check cleared from that man in the bar and Leroy believed he had hit the jackpot. He just had to copy a couple of files here and there and collect office gossip. Despite being low on the corporate ladder, he was still able to walk up to Bruce Wayne's floor where the best gossip could be found.

An 'accident' befell the coffee maker on his floor and rumours started that the best coffee could be found in the kitchen on Bruce Wayne's floor. So he wasn't the only one who took the elevator to a different floor for their coffee break.

"You've got to be kidding me," a voice said from behind him. Immediately he went into panic mode. He was going to be mugged in the carpark, in the dark, before he could even unlock his car. Turning around, the first thing he noticed was a flash of red.

"Who-"

"I'm Robin, stupid." Robin grinned at him as he placed his hands on his hips. "And you don't look like the kind of guy who would be selling company secrets. Aren't you a little too invested in this job to consider hurting your chances of keeping it or moving up?"

"What would a kid like you know about that?" Leroy growled back.

Robin just shrugged. "Enough to know that there must be a reason you decided to sell Wayne's secrets to Lex Corp."

Leroy's heart did a little jump in shock. Lex Corp? He hadn't even thought about why the man in the bar had wanted the information or who he might be working for. That might have been a mistake.

"Lex Corp... is that why Batman's getting involved?" he questioned.

Robin's grin widened. "Smart. We already know the kind of information you've been gathering. What I want to know is, why is Luthor buying buildings before Wayne can?"

"That's above my pay-grade kid. You've have to ask Luthor. I didn't even know the information was going to him."

Robin sighed and muttered something under his breath. Leroy took a step back towards his car and bumped into a physical body.

Dick, in his all-black costume and mask, grinned at Leroy as he jolted forward and tripped flat on his face. He had been standing there a while, analysing the man's every movement and thought without him noticing.

"While he isn't a professional corporate spy, you should still treat him as such, Robin," Dick chastised the kid while flipping a knife in his hand.

Leroy swallowed. He hadn't heard about the other youth Batman had taken under his wing. Very few had.

"The information must go somewhere. How do you deliver it?" Robin asked, taking a step towards him.

Leroy spilled everything. Whatever he had been recruited into, it wasn't worth Batman's interest in him.

Bruce didn't want to send his sons to check out the 'person in the bar' Leroy had mentioned. However, Bruce was still in Metropolis while Dick and Jason were in Gotham. He had thought it would be a quick flight there to gather information and that they would be back before anyone realised they weren't with him. The longer they were in Gotham, the more chance there was for Luthor to make the connection between Batman's investigation and the Wayne family's movements.

Dick listened as Bruce tried to explain everything over the phone. He even let Bruce ramble about how he was going to fly over to assist them.

"We'll be fine," Jason insisted. "What's the worst that could happen?"

Dick raised an eyebrow at his little brother. Was Jason serious? Dick himself was a living testament to 'the worst that could happen'. Bruce seemed to be on a similar wavelength because he listed off a lot of terrible things which could happen to them as they investigated.

"Those could happen on a usual patrol," Jason said dismissively. "No offence, but I think we can handle this. We can even be back in Metropolis in two days, just in time for whatever party you're holding."

Bruce hummed in that low way which said he didn't really agree but couldn't think of any counter-arguments. "Don't make promises you can't keep, Jason."

"Oh, please. You do it all the time for those rich people events. You just say you forgot or got drunk and people consider it okay. Well, I was up gaming and too tired to go."

"That's not how it works. You are a still a child, Jason. You're expected to be seen with me."

"In that case, can't you claim you forgot, not go and so Jason and I aren't expected to appear."

"And then none of us have to go!" Jason cheered. "Best idea ever."

Bruce did the light little hum which said he agreed but couldn't say so out loud because Alfred would not approve.

"You said you would get back before then. Just do so and we won't have any issues."

"Of course."

"Be safe you two. The moment something seems off, get out."

"Got it!" Jason hung up and grinned widely at Dick. "This is our first solo mission!"

Dick nodded, smiling as well. However, worry coiled in his gut. It was easier to watch over Jason when he had Bruce and Alfred helping out.

It was a bar so Jason was automatically on watch outside. Dick had pulled on a blond wig and had green contacts in, making him look like a completely different person.

His outfit was the kind which he liked but Alfred and Jason but vetoed in his day to day wardrobe. It was bright, his shirt white with multi-coloured pokadots and his jacket and jeans a sensible navy denim.

Dick quickly found the man Leroy had described and sat down next to him.

"So, you're Leroy's handler. What's your interest in Wayne?"

The man looked at him and laughed.

"I'm not interested in Wayne. I'll have whatever you're drinking, it's potent stuff."

Dick pulled out a folder with all the information in it and placed it on the bench, sliding it across.

"That's everything I believe you were able to grab and a little extra." The 'extra' being the information Leroy had been planning to hand over right now, had he not been caught.

"What do you want?" the man asked.

"I want to know who your client is."

"I have no idea. I type and scan everything and sent it to an anonymous email address. Then money appears in a dead drop."

"No accounts to trace."

"That's correct. Although I get the feeling you know who hired me anyway."

Dick shrugged and slid a fifty across the bar.

"I want that email address."

The man hummed, took a sip of his drink and slipped the fifty into his pocket. But, even though he took the money, he shook his head. "No way. I doubt Leroy will be able to get me any more information which means that you just cost me a very valuable client."

Dick sighed and placed another fifty on the bar. The man took it but didn't relent.

"Do you know what the information is being used for?"

"Hm, now that I can answer. Although if you haven't noticed by now, you're not as clever as I think you are. Unless... you're here on someone's orders. Seems neither of us are here because of personal investment."

Speak for yourself, Dick thought. Although, he nodded in agreement. Better the man think they were similar than to be suspicious of their differences and Dick's possible connection to Wayne.

"The information is being used to block Wayne's philanthropist activities."

"Why?"

The man shrugged. "To keep Gotham in the dark? To show everyone how little Bruce Wayne actually cares? To build an empire?" That last one was the one Dick knew Bruce was worried about. "All three maybe? Rich men don't do things for any singular reason."

That Dick definitely agreed with. "Then our final piece of business is that email."

The man huffed. "I thought you understood. You're not getting it."

"That's alright," Dick said. "There are other ways to get information." The man would walk out and it would be Robin's turn to interrogate him. They'd get the email.