Payment Time
"Let's start at the beginning Bruce, not with who killed Dick, but with where those chemicals came from. We find that out and we find the killers." Tim says.
Bruce calls up the information on the chemicals found dumped in Blündhaven. "Dick brought two samples in for me to do an analysis for him about two weeks ago." Bruce says quietly. "At the time it seemed a pretty straight forward, simple case. One the police should have been able to handle. Then two days before... before..! Dick called to say the police case had been put on hold and he would be investigating it in his capacity of Nightwing."
"Did he say anything else?" Tim asked.
Bruce shook his head. Quickly turning his chair around to face the computer.
"Tri Benzol Dioxide is the by products of two factories in Gotham. Wayne Bio Tech and Cooper Price Chemicals." Bruce confirms as he reads the computer print out.
"I am assuming we can eliminate Wayne Bio Tech as the likely source of the dumped chemicals?" Tim asks.
Bruce scowls at the boy.
"Just checking." Tim says. "So tonight we pay a visit to Cooper Price and see who handles their waste disposal.
Cooper Price Chemicals occupies a site just west of Gotham Park. The whole place is run down. Leaking pipes drip noxious fluid into deep stagnant pools. The perimeter fence has more holes in it than a tea strainer and the security guard is asleep.
The two crime fighters are stood in the silent officers. Robin running a search on computer files, while Batman combs through the filing cabinet with the aid of a torch.
"Nothing, rings any bells here." Tim whispers.
Batman is scanning Bank statements, "Notch one up for the old methods" Batman says.
"What did you find Tim?" asks.
With that the security guard bursts in gun draw, but eyes closed. "Stand still, I've called the police!" he yells.
In a lightening movement Batman kicks the gun clean out of the man's hand. He has the man by the shirtfront and is about to slam a fist into his face when Robin grabs his arm.
"Batman, what are you doing?" he hisses into his friend ear. "He's an old guy, Alfies' age, he probably doesn't get paid much. He certainly doesn't deserve his lights punching out."
Batman hesitates, takes a deep breath and lowers his arm. He sits the old man in a chair while Robin hands the man a cup of water from the cooler.
Looking at the man closely Batman can see he's old, at least sixty-five and frail. He feels sick that he almost punched this guy and punched him hard. If Robin hadn't of stopped him he would probably been responsible for killing the old man.
"What do you know about chemicals being illegally dumped?" Robin asks.
"Nothing, the man stammers. All I do is what it says on my sheet, walk around the site every two hours. Some nights I have to wait for delivery trucks to come, I let them in. That's all I do.
"But you supervise what the delivery drivers do surely?" Robin asks.
"No on days that deliveries are due young Mr Price is in working late. It's not my place to snoop around. I need this job, Batman!" the old man pleads. "My pension doesn't cover the hospital bills for my wife." The old man is crying.
"What's your name," Batman enquires "and what hospital is your wife in?"
"Alden, Jack Alden. My wife Edith, is in The General. Why?"
"You just quit your job Jack, I've a friend who'll take care of your wife's medical bills that's a promise. All you need to do is tell us when the next delivery is due. Then you tell the police you disturbed a couple of kids trying to break in. In the morning you quit is that understood."
The old man nods, hope lights up his tired old face. "The next delivery will be tomorrow night. They arrive about eleven stay an hour then go. I ain't supposed to take down the license plate on the vans. I thought that was strange because I have to on all other vehicles entering the site. So just to cover myself I kept my own personal log of what days and times they came and the license plate number." The old man fumbled in his wallet, then hands Batman a piece of crumpled paper."
"You'll testify to this being true in court." Batman asked.
"Sure will, I don't owe these people anything, they pay less than minimum wage and exploit everyone. I only work here so my Edith, is taken care of. This place is a disaster area. They're getting away with murder here."
"No, they're not, not this time." Batman says his voice full of meaning.
Batman and Robin stand hidden behind the air-cooling system and listen to Jack telling the police about the attempted break-in.
"You take care pop," one of the cops says, "this isn't a job for a guy of your age."
"You're right there. In fact I am going to quit in the morning. They don't pay well enough to risk getting killed."
As the cops leave Jack hears a soft voice on the wind. "Go home old man, we'll make sure your wife gets the best treatment."
As they get back in the car Batman starts a trace on the vans license plates. "Chapman Delivery Services, Chapman Street." He mutters.
"Do we go there now?" Robin asks?
"No, we go home now. A break in at both companies on the same night might just start alarm bells ringing. Anyway it's nearly daybreak and Alfred will be expecting us back."
Alfred is waiting for them in the cave. A plate of sandwiches and two glasses of milk are on the table. Tim jumps out of the car almost before it stops and rushes up to the old man. "You OK Alfie." he asks as he hugs the old man carefully.
"I am Perf.." the man starts then looking into the boys face he stops and gives a truthful answer, "I am getting there, young sir, I am getting there slowly."
Tim smiles and hugs the man a fraction tighter.
"Good to see you up old friend." Bruce says squeezing the old man's shoulder. He is still shaken from the night's events and it shows.
"Are you all right sir?" Alfred asks concerned.
"Like you Alfred, I will be, right now I've got a couple of jobs for you. One is to arrange payment of hospital bills for Edith Alden at the General hospital. The usual anonymous benefactor routine. Second I want you to get me copies of bank statements from the First Bank of Gotham for Cooper Price Chemicals account number four. When you find the details I want you to try and find a link to this firm Chapman Delivery Services. Two vans owned by them have been seen entering the chemical plant at night"
The old man nods "Right away sir, I take it you are on to Master Dick's killers."
"That we are Alfred, and with luck this time tomorrow they will be made to pay.
"Any luck with the research." Tim asks the old man seated at the computer terminal.
"Mm.. some" Alfred replies distracted. "I've found a possible link, but it's not sound enough to get a conviction on. It's at best circumstantial evidence."
"Where's Bruce?" Tim asks.
"Lawyers meeting, about Master Dick.. , because there was no body..you know!" The old man sounds close to tears.
"Any chance of some lunch, I am famished," Tim states, "nothing light, I need the works, a full scale 'special brunch' with all the trimmings."
"Add two more to that order," a deep voice calls from the top of the stairs, "I feel like I haven't eaten in weeks and I've never known Leslie turn down one of your meals Alfred." Bruce says his voice maybe a fraction too cheerful.
Plates cleared away the four friends hold a council of war.
"I don't want these punks on the chemical dumping charges I want them for murder. They are going to pay for Dick's death." Bruce says.
"Well if we find the van that hit Dick then there will certainly be DNA evidence available. No matter how hard they try to remove it. We've go blood Dick donated at the clinic, so if you find the van that hit Dick we can prove it." Leslie said.
"But that's all it will prove that the van hit him." Bruce said. "They could claim it was an accident!"
"There is also the problem of there being no body. Dick Grayson died in an accident on Deadmans Bend. You cannot blame that on anyone." Tim stated.
The three adults around the table looked at the boy. "He's right Bruce, you will have to settle for the dumping of toxic waste charge, it does mean prison for those convicted." Leslie said quietly.
Bruce looked angry and defeated! "But where's the justice for Dick in that!"
"You will have completed Nightwing's final case for him. He would have appreciated that!" Tim mutters.
Alfred looks pensive. "I've got an interesting aside on the money, the day after Master Dick was killed, $50,000 was paid from Cooper Price Chemicals into Dean Porter's, the owner of Chapman Delivery services, private account; it then was transferred to a man called Masterson Smith. A private detective who specialises in divorce cases. Usually pretty sordid stuff, video evidence of nocturnal activities, you know, couples in cars, or motel rooms or cabins." Alfred stopped. "I've checked the maps there's a pretty secluded cabin owned by Daniel Rudge that almost overlooks the road. Mrs Rudge is suing for divorce."
"You think this Masterson Smith may have filmed the incident?" Bruce asks hopefully.
"Yes Sir, and if he did, well you wouldn't need a body, not if it was graphic enough! I mean who's to say the people who killed him didn't dispose of Nightwing's body themselves to cover their tracks. We have his Motorcycle that can be used to incriminate the villains."
"Alfred, you're talking about falsifying evidence!" Leslie said amazed that her friend would suggest such a thing.
"No Leslie, I am proposing we give Justice a helping hand."
"But surely Porter and Price will have destroyed the tape." Tim said.
"They definitely will have done, but I am betting if this Private detective is as low as Alfred implies, he will have made more than one copy. After all it could prove to be a nice little nest egg for him." Bruce said.
"So what's our plan Bruce?" Tim asks.
"Step one is the tape, we pursued Mr Masterson Smith that he should donate the tape to our safe keeping. Then I am sure we can persuade him to throw himself on Jim Gordon's mercy. I mean if he thought his life was in danger and the only way to protect himself was to relinquish the tape. Alfred, how's your marksmanship these days? Still able to hit a Nat's eye at a 1000 yards?"
The old man smiles, "I will certainly be able to ensure the gentleman thinks he's had a luck escape. Seeing as Mr Smiths office is on the Top Floor of the old Argon Building, how about an hit from a helicopter, that will suggest money and a professional hitman."
"Nice touch Alfred, know where you can steal one from?" Bruce asked.
"The old man smiled, I know just the place. They'll never know it's even been moved."
Leslie was looking at her friend in amazement. "Alfred, there's a side to you I never knew about!"
"Having second thoughts about knowing such an old villain?" Tim asks with a smile.
"No, I am just wondering what he's really been up to when he tells me he's spent the day doing the laundry."
Masterson Smith proved to be a small weasel faced man with a nervous tick. He was looking at the two vigilantes with utter disbelief. "An international hitman after me, oh come on why would a hitman want to kill me? I deal with local divorce cases, nothing more."
"That's not what we heard, we heard you had a very interesting tape for sale." Batman stated. The problem is the last purchaser got to hear you didn't quite keep your side of the bargain. So Mr Porter and his associates employed a hitman to make sure you didn't infringe any copy right that Mr Porter now thinks he owns."
Masterson was getting worried. His Adams apple was moving up and down his throat and he was pulling at his tie.
The clatter of a helicopters blades could be heard close by. It was hovering over the old dock. Masterson Smith turned around to look out at the helicopter, when the window shattered and he felt a bullet rip through the sleeve of his jacket. Batman pulled the man to the floor as two more shots entered the room.
The helicopter veered off and was quickly gone from the scene.
"You've got to protect me Batman, I didn't know what the tape was at first, I'd been on a case that hadn't worked out ,when I saw a chase on the road, so I filmed it. They knocked the guy off his bike, while I was filming. I never expected them to then back over him."
Batman slumped down on the side of the desk he felt sick. Masterson didn't seem to notice.
"You got it all on film. They couldn't claim it was an accident?" Robin asked weakly.
"No way! I even got the bit where they got out of the van to check he was dead. That's when they caught sight of me. Luckily I know that area like the back of my hand although they nearly had me twice."
"What happened to the body?" Batman asked.
"I guess they disposed of it because I didn't see any reports of it being found."
"I am taking you in to Commissioner Gordon, your only hope is to hand the tape in, make a statement and then go on the witness protection program. Because the guy they've set to kill you is a fanatic. He won't except failure, he's never missed before so I don't think he'll rest until he gets you."
Masterson was so grateful to be taken to police headquarters in the Batmobile he would have given them anything they wanted.
An hour later a grim faced Jim Gordon approached Batman. "I am sorry old friend, it's defiantly Nightwing they killed. There's no way he survived what they did to him. Do you want to see the tape.., I wouldn't advise it though!"
Batman shook his head and Gordon saw tear in his eyes. "There's no body Jim, will there be enough to convict them?"
"After seeing that tape there's no way they could wriggle out of it. There's also going to be forensic on the van, and the shot of the drivers face in close up when he go out to….! Well lets just say it's an open and shut case with Smith's testimony." Gordon squeezed Batman's shoulder. "Any idea what Nightwing was doing there."
Batman filled Gordon in on the case of the illegal dumping of chemical waste. Batman and Robin watched from a hill overlooking the site, as the police swooped on the two vans that left the Cooper Price compound with their next loads of toxic waste. They saw the police searches of the site unearth the remains Nightwing's bike from the back of a Cooper Price van.
Five people looked down on the grave of Richard Grayson. A small headstone had been erected on the site and a single yellow rose covered in early morning dew shimmed against the green of the grass.
"We may have had to bend the truth to achieve Justice Dick," Bruce said quietly, "but there's no way they'll get out of this. It's now time for them to pay and pay heavily for what they did to you son. You can now rest in peace."
