Synopsis: Someone has stolen all the money from the Wayne Foundation Youth Charity Fund. Batman and Red Hood go after the man who did it. While doing research on the thief, Tim is hit by a mysterious beam from an odd weapon sitting on a shelf and is de-aged. Oh boy, what are they going to do with a four-year-old Tim?

Part 13: Ransom!

Dick arrived back at the manor. He parked his car out front, not bothering to put it in the garage. He had called Mr Finster earlier and told him what had happened. It was all he could do to keep the car on the road while Mr. Finster freaked out over the phone. Now that he was home, he wasn't sure what he was going to do.

'Mr. Finster is already freaking out because of his child being taken,' Dick thought to himself. 'I hope they at least left some sort of ransom note.'

Dick walked into the Manor to see Alfred and a pissed off Healer. She gave Dick one look and stormed off.

'This is going to be difficult. They must already know.'

"Master Richard, thank goodness," Alfred said, still holding the note, shirt, and shoe in his hand. "You must have just missed the kidnappers."

Dick looked to see that Alfred was holding Tim's shirt and the girl's shoe. He hung my head in shame at not having protected Tim. 'I . . . This was my fault.'

Alfred handed Dick the note. "They want us to contact the Finsters. They will contact us later with further instructions and if we don't comply. They may harm Master Timothy."

Dick took in a deep breath. "I already contacted the Finsters. The Finsters are multimillionaires, but this could take half their fourtune. Maybe I should just hand over the 40 mill myself. Tim was trying to save Christina when they both were snatched."

"The Finsters must be told the demands for their daughter. We should contact them, again." Alfred handed Dick the girl's shoe. "After all, if it were you're daughter and someone else's son, wouldn't you want to know?"

Dick tooked at the shoe and looked down at it. He walked into Bruce's study and went through the address book, even though he had called the Finsters on his cell phone earlier. He found Mr. Finster's number. Dick was aware that Alfred had followed him into Bruce's study.

"We must also remember that Master Timothy is resourceful. His body may be turned into a four-year-old child, but he does not have a four-year-old's mind."

"I'm just worried, Alfred. I know he is . . ." Their conversation had to wait as someone answered the phone.

"Finster residents . . . If this is a reporter, they aren't accepting any calls today."

"Hello, the is Richard Wayne. I was wondering if I could talk to Mr. Finster? It's in regard to his daughter. I spoke to him earlier on his cell phone."

"Richard Wayne?" the maid said. ". . . . One moment."

Dick waited for Mr. Finster to get on the line.

"Mr. Wayne, Mr. Finster is not really available to talk, my daughter's nanny just told him someone grabbed her in the park along with another little boy . . . He cannot tie up the line if the kidnappers try to call."

"But I spoke with him earlier on his cellphone. I'm the one who told him about his daughter. The boy was my . . . nephew." Dick couldn't say that Tim was his brother or son. It would be suspicious after Tim was turned back to normal. "I'll handle the ransom money. It's the best I can do since my nephew was trying to save his daughter."

The phone must have been on speaker since the next voice Dick heard was Mr. Finster himself. "Please . . . I feel terrible asking you to do that . . . Please let me contribute something. She's my little Princess . . . My only child."

"Alright Mr. Finster, but I'll cover the majority of it for you. Please, I feel terrible that i couldn't catch them." In Dick's thoughts the words were a little different, but the feelings were the same. He had to silence the voice of Talon D. 'I need to do this. I feel so upset that my brother and a friend he made was taken right in front of my eyes. Besides, I have a plan.'

Did was lost in his head that he almost missed Mr. Finster's question. "Very well. Do you do know where they want the money delivered and when?"

"Not right now,' Dick answered. "I'm waiting for their call. I will contact you when they do. Bye Mr. Finster."

Dick hung up the phone and sank into Bruce's chair, covering his face with his hands. 'God, Timoti, just hang in there.'

"Master Richard," Alfred came in carrying a tray with a teapot and two cups. "I brought some tea. Shouldn't you call Master Bruce on this?"

"I can't Alfred," Dick replied. "Don't you remember, Bruce gave me custody of Tim from that Devlin incident. I'm responsible for him. If I call him in on this, I'd feel like a failure."

"I understand, but eventually, you know he will learn of this, not to mention that you have a very pissed off Mrs wanting her husband back in one piece."

"I know. I don't want to let her down either. I'm going to do everything to get Tim back, along with Mr. Finster's daughter."

Continues with Part 13: Fighting Back