The Devil's Sister
Two weeks later, after Tim and Samantha come back from a brief honeymoon, Tim and Dick go shopping for Christmas when both are kidnapped and taken to Chicago where they meet the devil's sister, Victoria Devlin.
Part 36: A Private Discussion
After closing his chamber door, the judge's eyes went wide. when he was suddenly confronted what a dark clad figure. The cowl covered most of his face and he placed a gloved hand to his lips then made a sweep of the room. The judge watched with curiosity as the dark figure found a few hidden blue tooth microphones in various places; underneath the phone on the desk, behind a curtain, and one hidden behind the judge's law books. Someone must have placed them there while the judge was in the courtroom. Batman quickly took care of them by covering them with insulating tape. Once that was done, they could speak freely.
"Batman? What are you doing here?"
"Nathan Devlin is a criminal," Batman stated. "He should not be allowed to adopt Timothy Drake."
"I am aware of that," the Judge stated. "I was informed that whatever crimes he committed they were sponged from his record. For all intended purposes, Mr. Devlin has no criminal record."
Batman handed the judge a sheet of paper. "Nathan Devlin arranged an escape from Nassau's Penitentiary with the help of a guard. The guard has come forward and confessed."
The judge took the sheet and read what was on there. "I had no idea."
"The guard was charged with bribery and aiding a prisoner to escape. Extradition charges were filed in the Supreme Court of the United States on behave of the Bahama's government."
"I am glad you brought this up," the judge stated. "Though I do not know if you can do anything about it. I received visitors last night. If I don't allow Timothy Drake to be adopted by Mr. Devlin, then my family will pay the price."
"Who threatened you?" Batman asked.
"The man in that court room. Mr. Devlin's lawyer. He had two goons with him, but I can't let on that I knew he was here last night. I didn't even go home," the Judge continued. "I can't even go to the police."
"Give me one hour, Judge," the Batman stated. His voice wasn't exactly a plea, but it did demand trust and attention.
The judge looked at his watch. "I have set a recess so I can go over these papers, but that will only last for about fifteen minutes."
"Stall the recess for one hour and wait for my signal."
"I could make some phone calls. I have to verify if one of these birth certificates is a fake."
The judge let Batman take a look at the certificates. "I can tell you that the one from Virginia is real. The other information you will have to verify that yourself."
"How can I? Timothy Drake's parents are dead," Judge Wilkins stated. "I remember the case. It was in all the papers."
"And so are Richard Grayson's parents."
"Yes, of course, I remember. Mr. Wayne wanted to adopt Richard Grayson, but the way things were at that time, he was a single man. I'm sure you know what the courts would have thought."
"I'm sure I don't know what you mean," Batman stated. Even though he did. "I suggest you call the doctor who delivered Timothy Grayson. It will verify that certificate is real. Stall, if you have to."
Batman quickly left the same way he had come in. No one heard him or saw him, and now he was racing through Gotham to stop a possible massacre of a family. As Bruce Wayne, he knew the judge and his family because of their large contributions to the Wayne Foundation. He had to get this right or risk losing Tim, because once Nathan Devlin got what he wanted, Tim's life would be over in a matter of weeks, if not days, or even hours. Batman couldn't let that happen either, and not after Tim became a father so soon. He also knew that Nathan Devlin had no intention of leaving the judge and his family alive. He had to get to them before that happened.
Within ten minutes, Batman arrived near the Judge's home. His car was very distinct, which meant it would be immediately noticed if he drove into the neighborhood. He rarely showed himself during the day, but this could not be helped. He hoped those in this upscale neighborhood were out of their homes for the day. If spotted, whoever was holding the judge's family hostage, they wouldn't hesitate to kill them.
Batman parked the car in a nearby wooded area that divided one neighborhood from another. The judge's house was just on the edge of the woods. It gave him enough cover so he could climb into a tree and assess the situation from above. Adjusting the settings in his cowl to find heat signatures through the walls of the structure, he spotted eight. Five of them came from three adults, and two children clustered together. The other three came from Devlin's men. Each of the men were carrying an automatic weapon, overkill for this situation. He had to act fast. He would have preferred to wait until dark, but it would be too late. The judge would either have to rule in favor of Nathan Devlin to keep his family safe, or risk their lives and make his ruling in favor of Richard Grayson, and Batman did not have the luxury to wait.
When both outside men were looking the other way, Batman headed to the back of the house. He struck just as the man was turning. Before the man fell, Batman caught him and leaned him up against the wall. He used a zip-tie to cuff the man's feet and wrists, then he placed the gun out of the man's reach. On silent footsteps Batman used the structure to climb to the roof and headed to the front of the house. He had to time it perfectly, making sure he made no sound. Once he was in position, he swung down just at that moment crashing into the second guy and once again, catching him before he fell.
This time, he wasn't so lucky. He didn't catch the man's weapon and it fell to the porch making a loud clattering sound.
"Flynn . . . " the third man cried out. "Flynn!"
Batman waited just outside the door for the third man to exist. Once he spotted his companion all trusted up, Batman struck, again.
"Flynn can't answer," Batman growled. "He's taking a nap, like you."
The third man's eyes were wide with fright as he recognized too late whom it was that assaulted his companion. Batman gave the man a smirk as he punched the man's lights out and dropped him right at his feet. Batman entered the Judge's home and saw the woman sitting on the couch with her son, her daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. She was shaking and the daughter-in-law had been crying.
"It's all right, you're safe,' Batman stated as gently as he could. "Call the police." Batman left returning to the bat-mobile. He dialed Commissioner Gordon's private number.
"Did you get the information?"
"About Nathan Devlin?" Commissioner Gordon questioned.
"Yes," Batman replied. "Alert your officers who are stationed at the court house. Prepare to make an arrest, but not until the court proceedings to adopt Timothy Wayne are concluded."
"I'll have my men standing by."
Batman hung up the phone and called the judge on his cell phone.
"Yes?"
"They're safe. Proceed as if nothing has changed."
"I understand," the Judge stated.
Once the time was up, the judge notified the bailiff that the adoption proceedings would continue.
Continues with Part 37