Family Ties Chapter 53 Interrogation

Robin stood just behind his father, watching the scene below. Grayson and Cain were stacking firearms on a police car's hood, and Gordon and the Huntress girl were hauling semi-conscious gunmen out. Father crouched on the edge of the roof. After a moment, Cain glanced up, aware of the scrutiny. Father tilted his head, subtly instructing her. She left her task, and tapped Huntress on the shoulder. The two grappled up to the roof, leaving Grayson and Gordon working below.

Father stepped backwards, and Cain moved over so she and Robin flanked their leader, leaving Huntress standing in the middle. The way her eyes, exposed beneath her lens-less mask, flicked from side to side showed she'd picked up on the subtly intimidation tactic. Interestingly, she didn't seem affected by it.

"Why are you here?" Father asked bluntly.

"Because you called me up here," Huntress replied snidely. Father glared, and the new girl folded her arms with a huff. "I figured out you were after a major target and I wanted in."

"How, and why?"

"I have interests regarding that day care centre, and so I was aware when Nightwing and Batgirl commenced operations in daylight," she shrugged. "You only do that when it's serious. When a Batmobile stayed put for a while, I caught up. I already knew you and Robin were mobile; Red Robin's incapacitation is old news; and seeing Batgirl, Black Bat and the screens made it fairly easy to deduce the strategy. As for why…" she paused, cocking her head slightly as she thought. "I haven't done anything big here yet. I want to. Nothing wrong with small timers with a side of organized crime, but when it comes to the heavy hitters, I want to pull my weight. And tonight, it looked like you could do with an extra body in the field."

Father subtly glanced at Cain, who gently inclined her head, detecting no falsehood. Knowing that area was her expertise, Robin was unsurprised that his father accepted it.

"What is your interest in the day care centre?" he asked.

"I suspect the head carer is a fence," Huntress replied promptly.

"Can you handle the case?"

"I see no reason why not."

"If you can't…"

"I can manage."

Another surreptitious nod from Cain, and the questions continued.

"How did you track the Batmobile?"

"I have access to police channels. It was sighted; I followed."

"Does Gordon know about your…access?"

"Highly unlikely."

"Illegal?"

"No more than a lot of what you do."

"You severely injured Cluemaster. Why?"

"He hurt Spoiler. I don't really know her, but it seems to me that a statement needs to be made that such actions will have consequences."

Father stared Huntress down. She met his gaze and held it longer than most, before glancing down.

"You had no need to do that," Father growled.

"I guess we'll just have to disagree," Huntress said evenly.

Father frowned ever so slightly, not happy but not finding her completely at fault. "You aren't telling me everything."

"No, I'm not," she agreed. "I'm not concealing anything which would harm you and yours. I know you have ways to detect falsehood."

Cain gave another nod, verifying the other girl's words.

"You're acting like a loose cannon," Father declared. "Be more controlled. Think with your brain, not your fists. We'll be watching."

Father gestured, and Robin followed him and Cain down to the street. They stood next to the Batmobile until Grayson and Gordon came over. "Wrap it up and head back, call it a night," Father instructed. "Robin, ride with Nightwing." He disappeared, presumably to retrieve the other Batmobile, and consult the Commissioner.

"We're pretty much done, anyway," Grayson shrugged. "Girls, bikes. Robin, shotgun. Let's go."


"You'll be fine, darling," Tim said reassuringly. "Concussion's not so bad. No internal injuries; that was the big worry. If you're too out of it in the morning, fake a stomach bug. I'll come round after school."

"Sure," Steph sighed. "I…it was my father. I used to think he cared…"

"He didn't know it was you," he reminded her gently.

"For some reason, that doesn't make it better," she murmured.

"I know," Tim said simply.

Steph sighed again. "I need some sleep. G'night."

"Sweet dreams, love," he whispered, and the line went dead.

Tim unhooked his comm and massaged his forehead with the heel of his hand. Jason had come back as he'd returned from the satellite, bruised shoulder wrapped and ready for bed. The others were back soon after, Babs staying just long enough to change and return home. Tim was waiting for Bruce, to give him Cass' report on Huntress.

The Batmobile arrived and Bruce stepped out. "You should be in bed," he grunted, pulling back his cowl.

"Cass says that Huntress was telling the truth; evasive, but honest," Tim reported. "She agrees Huntress isn't trying to harm us with her reticence, and truly believes she can handle cases. She was only telling a half-truth when she said she hadn't done anything big yet. But what was most interesting was her reaction to your glare. She didn't look away out of fear. It was pain. Possibly grief."

"Odd," Bruce mused. "Give her space, but find her.