CHAPTER 21

By the end of the week, Dick was released from the hospital. Superman stopped by to take us all to lunch and Dick enjoyed himself thoroughly, although we did attract a mob at the burger joint we went to.

"Is this the best you can do?" I grumbled to Superman as I nibbled at the grease burger I'd been served.

"I think the food is great here!" Superman said. "What do you think, Dick?"

Dick, who'd just deployed half the bottle of ketchup over his french fries looked up with a grin. "No, it's great! Way better than the hospital food." Alfred had gone ahead to ready the manor for our arrival, so I had no support in favor of more high end food. But I had to admit that my boy's cheeks were pinking up again and he'd gained a bit of weight.

Walking back to the car, Superman pulled me to one side while Dick ran ahead. "What about Richie Loyd? Have you got any leads on him? Have you told Dick about his parents yet?"

I turned a stormy face to the Man of Steel. "No! And don't you go telling him either! As far as Dick knows, Tony Zucco was running a protection racket and that's it. I don't want him to know about Richie Loyd."

"You don't plan to tell him?" Superman looked nonplussed. "Why not?"

"Dick doesn't need the extra burden of knowing that Zucco was hired by a family member. I'll take care of Loyd, in my own time. But until then, Dick will be free to live his life," I whispered fiercely to Superman and had the pleasure of seeing him flinch.

"All right, Bruce, if that's what you want," Superman sighed. "But he'll find out one day and you'll have to deal with it."

"I'll cross that bridge when I come to it," I said as Dick came running back to us.

"You're so slow!" He yelled and ran back to the car, diving into his seat by the simple expedient of hopping over the passenger side door into the convertible.

"I'll be in touch with you when I have something," I said in a low voice. "Can I count on you for this?"

Superman, who had been smiling fondly at the bundle of energy seated in the car, turned back to me. "Yes, you can count on me. I'll be checking with my own contacts. If I get a lead on Richie Loyd, I'll let you know."

WAYNE MANOR

When we arrived, Dick raced up the stairs to find his room untouched in his absence. I followed with his suitcase and Zitka tucked under an arm and dropped her onto the bed.

"Well?" I asked as Dick made a quick survey of the place. "Nothing's changed, has it?"

Dick shook his head. "No, you kept it just the way I left it," he said with his eyes shining. "When I...had to go away...I thought it might be the last time I ever saw you and Alfred."

"Did people drop out of your life so easily, Dick?" I asked him and sat next to him on the bed.

He looked at the floor and nodded. "In the circus, people come and go. Mom and Dad...and Mr. Haley...were the only people who stayed all the time. Sometimes they stay for a season, or for a few years, but they always leave. Then Mom and Dad...died...They wouldn't let Mr. Haley keep me." Blue eyes met mine. "Then you took me in and I thought...I thought you were adopting me, till Cousin Richie showed up, but he didn't really want me, did he?" He picked at the bedspread. "Are you really, truly sure that I don't have to go back to him? And I can stay with you?"

This poor child, bounced around so much by an uncaring system. So much loss for one so very young. I rested a hand on his shoulder. "Dick," I said as confidently as I was able. "I promise you that Richie is out of your life. I also promise you that you're staying with me, even if I have to kidnap you to keep you." I couldn't believe what I had just promised him, but realized that I meant every word.

His eyes widened. "You mean that? You really mean that." His eyes narrowed. "But what about your life here? Batman? If you break the law, they'll come after you!"

I shrugged. "The police have been after me before, as Batman. We'll manage, chum. Now, why don't you unpack? Alfred will be calling us for dinner soon."

The morning after Dick's arrival at the Manor, Miss Simms came to the house. I was working in the study when Alfred showed her in.

"Miss Simms," I said, shaking her hand. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"You did ask for an expedited home study, Mr. Wayne," she replied. "I'm here to get moving on it. Do you have time for an interview?"

Since this is exactly what I had asked Rae to set up, I sat back down. "Of course." The door opened and Alfred appeared with tea. Good idea. Tea smoothes the way. Alfred poured for us both and left the service with some of his fresh scones.

"What can I tell you, Miss Simms?" I asked, munching on a raisin scone and trying to look open and honest. Truthfully, necessary as the process was, I was dreading it. I guard my privacy very carefully for obvious reasons. Now this woman was required to dig into every element of my background and what was worse, I had to let her.

"First, Mr. Wayne," she said briskly. "Since I was the social worker on duty that night, I already know how you and Richard..."

"Dick," I interrupted. "He likes to be called Dick."

Her eyes narrowed but she went on. "Uh...yes. Dick...What I'd like to know is, why do you want to adopt this boy? Since you watched his parents die, could it be a sense of pity? Or obligation?"

I know that I shifted uncomfortably. Strong emotions, vulnerability...I don't know how to handle those emotions with strangers...or even with those I love sometimes. But I remembered that I was doing this for Dick. I focused on her question and tried to put my feelings into words.

"My own parents were murdered in front of me when I was a child," I replied. "I know what Dick is going through and I thought that maybe I could help him. And while he was living with me I...I...just grew fond of the boy..." The words barely described the incredible joy this child had brought to my life, as well as the light and love he'd added to my world. I had things to plan, things to do, things to teach this boy...A purpose that wasn't dark and infused with vengeance.

"Most people who are lonely buy a pet," she said tonelessly. "Animal shelters are full of dogs and cats that outgrew their cuteness. How do you know that you won't treat Dick like some exotic pet to be farmed out to a boarding school once you've lost interest?"

I could feel the heat rising under my collar. "Dick isn't a pet, nor is he a charity case," I all but shouted. "He's a boy. And I love him like a son." I could feel my hands curling into fists but I resolutely pushed the Batman back into the shadows. I could not afford to threaten this woman.

She was silent for a moment, then sighed. "Mr. Wayne, you must understand that your history doesn't suggest parenthood." She opened her notebook and removed newspaper clippings. "According to the Gotham Gazette, over the past year you have dated three different super models, two actresses, a reporter and two flight attendants." She looked up at me with pursed lips. "I must assume that you've invited several of these women home during the four months that Dick was living with you. Promiscuity of this kind is not an acceptable environment for a child."

I felt like I'd been sucker-punched. The women were all a smokescreen to keep Bruce Wayne, socialite, separated from Batman. Now it was all backfiring and threatening to deprive me of what my heart wanted most. "I...ah...never brought them home until after Dick has gone to bed. And when I'm out for the evening, Alfred babysits Dick."

"And who is Alfred?" she asked.

"My butler," I replied. Surely nobody could have a doubt about Alfred's competence at anything!

"The elderly man who brought the tea?" she asked doubtfully.

"Yes, that's Alfred," I replied.

"And you have no other servants? You don't plan to hire a nanny for Dick?" She began scribbling in her notebook.

This was not going well at all. "Uh...no...I hadn't planned on it. Dick is pretty self-sufficient..."

"Uh huh," was all she said as she underlined something in her file.

We spoke a bit more before she left, but it was abundantly clear to me that this interview had been a total disaster. If I didn't improve my reputation somehow, I might lose Dick.