Chapter 1- The Money Shot
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In the softly lit bedroom with double blinds drawn, to shut out the light of day and noise of the traffic on the busy streets below, crumpled white sheets partially covered the nudity of two satisfied souls, breathing heavily as they lay close, their skin moist with recent exertion.
They spent a moment with eyes locked, exchanging small smiles as their breathing returned to normal.
The woman touched the tip of her nose to the mans, in an affectionate gesture, before pulling on her black underwear and rising from the bed.
'So soon? Where are you going Eb? Come back here.' John Blake said, remorseful that another of their encounters was already at an end.
Why did she always do that?
Always reluctant to stay too long at his place.
'Come on John, you need to get some rest before your night shift, and I have an event soon.' Ebony said her long wavy auburn hair getting in her face, as she gathered up her clothes from the bedroom floor.
Blake sat up in bed, watching as her lean curves were slowly covered with layers of black fabric.
Ebony pulled on her tight jeans and shirt.
'Oh right,' Blake replied, 'that Foundation event at Wayne Manor tonight. Seems like everyone will be there.' He said, almost envious.
'If I am lucky, maybe even Bruce Wayne himself,' Ebony replied. 'Now that would be the money shot, indeed.' Ebony paused, imagining a huge payout for getting a single snap of the mysterious and elusive Mr Wayne on the front cover of the Gotham Times.
She made a mental note to constantly check all the leadlight windows of the Manor in case he peeked through to see proceedings.
'The only shot worth more than that would be the Batman.' Ebony exclaimed. 'If he does ever reappear…'
Blake smiled.
'Perhaps he will, one day. You never know.' Blake said in reflection. 'If Bruce Wayne ever comes out of hiding, maybe the Batman would too.'
Ebony and Blake had met online six months ago through a chat group dedicated to discussing past sightings and encounters of the Batman and the conspiracy theory that he wasn't the villain he had been made out to be.
They eventually met in person for coffee and hit it off quite well, discussing thoughts as to why the Batman vanished eight years ago.
That, and the fact that they were both orphans.
They saw the world the same way on many levels.
They started meeting for coffee more often and after one night at a bar, led to something more physical.
It didn't worry Ebony that she was several years older than Blake.
He was kind, mature for his age and even more street smart than her.
Eventually realizing that they both shared the same secret theory.
That Bruce Wayne was the masked vigilante.
The Batman…
'You know, you still haven't given me an answer….' Blake started, '…about moving in with me?'
Ebony paused.
'Oh right, about that…' Ebony started, 'I told you I would think about it.' She deflected.
'You have been thinking about it for two months now.' Blake accused. 'At least start by staying over more.'
'You know I like my independence John,' Ebony rebutted affectionately.
'But you don't need to live like that anymore in that unsafe neighbourhood, from paycheck to paycheck and always putting yourself in risky situations for your work. You deserve better than that.' Blake stated, clearly frustrated. 'I want to look after you.'
'And I know you would,' Ebony admitted with a sigh. 'But I get by just fine.' Ebony added, not giving it too much thought.
'Come on Eb, I want us to be more than just… this.' Blake added, gesturing to the mattress with crumpled sheets that he was still underneath.
'I'm sorry, I am just not ready for change yet.' Ebony replied pulling on her leather jacket.
'As run down as it is, I like living in my apartment. I feel close to my parents there. Helps me remember them.' Ebony admitted, lacing her black combat boots.
'It's been eight years since your parents died, Eb. I worry about you, living in the Narrows by yourself. I haven't been a cop for that long, but I've seen things…' Blake said, his face as expressive as his tone. 'I care about you, I want to know you are safe.'
Ebony knew he was trying to reach out to her, but she brushed it off.
'Don't worry, growing up in that neighbourhood, I know how to keep out of trouble, go unnoticed. That is why I make such a good photographer.' Ebony deflected.
'I get the best shots when people don't know I am there.' She said on a whisper with a smile.
Leaning over the bed, she gave Blake a peck on the lips before picking up her black backpack containing her gear and heading for the door.
'Call me tomorrow,' Blake yelled from the bedroom before he heard the apartment door slam shut.
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With her dark wavy hair neatly pulled back into a high ponytail, Ebony cradled her father's prized Nikon camera close to her chest.
Although it wasn't the most high tech of instruments, it was without a doubt, the most valuable item she owned and she had fond memories of him showing her how to use it.
Ebony was switched on, in work mode, taking many snaps as she made her way through the crowd full of high-profile faces in the manicured garden.
Wayne Manor provided the majestic backdrop for Commissioner James Gordon as he stepped up to address the crowd with a welcome applause.
But where was Wayne? He wasn't in the crowd.
No surprizes there.
But Ebony had a talent for looking outside the box.
Surely he would be looking on… somewhere.
She glanced around discreetly.
Was he in the windows?
No.
A hooded individual hidden at the back of the crowd?
No.
Then, she spotted the outline of a lone figure, hunched over, a crippled, broken man, standing on a dark balcony.
Was that... him?
Ebony took some snaps.
Could be… she zoomed the camera in closer, but the figure was covered in shadow.
She would have to edit and enhance them later to know for sure.
Ebony turned away to shoot snaps of Gordan holding many sheets of folded paper, looking at it thoughtfully.
'I have a speech telling the truth about Harvey Dent…' Gordon addressed the crowd.
He paused, remembering the violent flashbacks, Harvey Dent threatening his son.
Ebony took more snaps as Gordan folded up the papers.
'Maybe the time isn't right.' Gordan says.
'Perhaps right now all you need to know is that there are one thousand inmates in Blackgate prison as a direct result of the Dent Act…' Gordan went on, 'Dent's death… has not been for nothing.'
Ebony turned her camera back to the darkened balcony.
But it was too late, the figure was gone.
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The event was over and most of the VIPs had left in their chauffer driven limousines as Ebony made her way down the long gravel drive in the dark to her parent's old 1980 Ford Pinto parked out of the way.
She couldn't wait to get home to process her photos, there could be a money shot in there, and of course call Blake to tell him about who she may have spotted.
Just like living in the house she grew up in was in a bad neighbourhood, she knew this old family car wasn't her best choice, but her dad loved it, so she loved it too.
It had many memories attached to it and Ebony felt she was closer to them when she was in it.
Driving the old manual vehicle through the city, Ebony noticed the motor struggle a little.
Another half mile down the road, the car stalled.
Ebony had just enough notice to pull the car over to the curb side.
'Shit.' Ebony whispered to herself as she tried to restart the car.
'Come on.' She said as the starter struggled.
'Come on!' She said again louder as she knew the situation was getting desperate.
The motor refused to crank over.
She paused a moment to look up.
There were no other cars on this stretch of street.
'Double shit.' Ebony said louder still trying the engine one last time.
After some time, she completely gave up, looking around.
The streets were still deserted.
It was not a part of town she frequently visited.
Ebony reached for her cell.
She was deciding whether to call Blake or a tow truck when she noticed movement in the shadows across the road a way ahead.
She watched as a few dark figures carrying gear, dressed in what looked like workman's attire made their way down an alley and out of sight.
Although they looked like construction men, Ebony's keen eye told her there was just something not quite right.
They moved too efficiently, with much purpose.
Her gut told her that they were up to something.
Always striving for a money shot no matter where it took her, Ebony was curious.
She made a quick decision to follow them.
Moving quickly, she grabbed her camera, removed the memory card with the possible prized shots of the 'Bruce the Recluse' sighting and replaced it with a fresh card in the slot.
Exiting her car as quietly as possible, Ebony headed down the dark alleyway after the workmen.
Holding her camera in both hands, with soft footsteps, Ebony discreetly made her way down the dark alley.
As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she realized it was a dead end with no doors.
Looking around, wondering where they had vanished to, Ebony saw a heavy steel lid leading down to the sewers, left slightly ajar.
A manhole.
After hesitating only slightly, Ebony slung her camera over her shoulder before proceeding to slide the heavy lid to one side, enough for her to slip into the vertical opening.
She slowly descended into the darkness.
Reaching the last of the metal ladder rungs, her chunky black combat boots hit small puddles of water.
Using her cell phone to light the way, Ebony cautiously made her way deeper into the sewer…
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Ebony made her way further into the tunnels until she wasn't sure if she could find her way out.
Not that it mattered, she told herself.
Any manhole would lead up to somewhere in Gotham.
Ebony spotted an armed man, standing watch.
That's strange.
Luckily he was facing the other way and Ebony kept to the shadows, passing him by.
Eventually, she heard distant noises.
Drilling, hammering, voices.
She followed the noise, peaking around a dark corner to see an open space, a hive of activity.
What was all this? A secret government project? Perhaps she had hit the jackpot. Breaking news…
She was excited about the prospects.
As quickly and quietly as possible, she began taking snaps, making sure her flash was turned off.
Luckily all the noise muffled any sounds coming from her camera.
More armed men standing guard, workmen drilling, others moving equipment…
Ebony captured it all.
Ebony smiled to herself, remembering what she had said to Blake only a few hours earlier.
'I get the best shots when people don't know I'm there...'
Not wanting to overstay her welcome, Ebony was just about to leave when she heard a voice behind her.
'Well, well. What do we have here?' A softly spoken man with a foreign accent said.
Ebony's eyes widened.
Was that the barrel of a gun poked into her back? Oh... Shit...
'You are not one of the regulars. How did you stray all the way down here?' He asked, not really expecting an answer.
Raising her hands whilst holding her camera, Ebony slowly turned around in the dim light to see a bearded man with a bullet encrusted vest pointing a large rifle at her.
Another armed man approached, this one bald with darker skin.
Slinging his weapon, he foolishly made the mistake of trying to take her camera, attempting to grab it out of her hands.
Oh no you don't.
They tussled for a while, neither letting go of the device before Ebony kicked him the first place she could think, down south.
The guard doubled over in pain.
Well that seemed easy enough…
The next thing she felt was the butt of a gun make contact with her head.
Then darkness…