ROBBIE MALONE Ch. 2
"Commissioner Gordon, Detective Hawke from Safe & Lofts Division's here with a prisoner. Said he was scheduled to meet with you tonight."
"Detective Hawke?" Jim Gordon thought as he answered his secretary through the intercom. He didn't remember a meeting with Detective Hawke. He didn't remember Detective Hawke. But there was something familiar about the name in the back of his mind.
"Commissioner, Detective Hawke says you and he made the appointment last night while he was working the night shift. Said it's about a special project you're working on."
Jim Gordon's eyes grew wide with realization. Last night. Batman. 'Detective Hawke' was the disguise he used right after the cataclysm when he was pulling people from a collapsed and burning building.
"Yes, send the, uhh, 'Detective' in."
Jim Gordon watched the door as the large man entered. It amazed Gordon the range of disguises the Batman could utilize. As Hawke, he was an imposing figure. Over six feet and broad of shoulders, he seemed larger in this guise than in his Batman costume. It utterly amazed Jim Gordon.
He had a young man with him. Gordon knew who it was, but the figure before him would not be confused with Nightwing by anyone else. His hair was disheveled, he was unshaven, and his hands ..., Jim Gordon gently shook his head, they were good, both of them. He admired the little details to the young man's disguise; they had even went to the trouble of simulating finger tattoos across his knuckles, a 'tell-tale' sign of one who had spent some incarcerated time. 'Well, they've seen enough perps to know how to blend in.' Gordon thought as he shut his office door.
"I assume by this display that you've agreed to go undercover for me." Gordon said to Nightwing as he walked around his desk.
"Nice to be wanted Commissioner." Nightwing said with a grin.
"You tell him everything?" Gordon said to Batman.
"Yes. Here are the papers I've generated to get Nightwing into Blackgate. I'll handle all communications with him while he's there." Batman said handing the documents Oracle had created on Robbie Malone.
"These are perfect." Gordon said after reviewing the documents, "I've managed to have Joey Torres transferred out of Blackgate. That will make Maltz' gang a man short. I'm sure you can fill that role nicely. I need you to find out who their contact in the administration is, how many people are involved, exactly what is going on in there."
"Yep, a role I can fill." Nightwing replied. "Time to get started, Commish."
Gordon looked from Nightwing to Batman. Even disguised, Gordon saw the concern in Batman's eyes. As a father, Gordon could relate. He wouldn't be happy about sending his child into a place like Blackgate either. No matter how well trained that child might be. He pushed the intercom button on his phone,
"Send Bullock in here."
Harvey Bullock soon walked into Commissioner's Gordon office, "Ya' needed me, Commish?"
"Yes, Detective. Would you mind seeing to it that Mr. 'Malone' here gets placed back in lock-up, I still have a few things to discuss with Detective Hawke."
"Sure Commish." Bullock said as he grabbed the young man by the shoulders, "Come on you." as they headed out the door.
Batman, as Detective Hawke, watched Bullock take Nightwing away, away to start this undercover operation in Blackgate. Back to Blackgate, where he had so narrowly escaped death not so long ago. Batman steeled himself. He was Batman, he didn't show emotion during a case, no matter what turmoil his insides were in, Batman didn't show emotion.
Gordon watched 'Detective Hawke'. He saw Batman's jaw flinch. Gordon knew that he worried about the boy. Gordon worried about the boy. But that 'boy' has proven himself more than once to be capable of taking care of himself, and taking care of his business, of being a man.
***********************************************************************
Paul Drew, the warden of Blackgate, watched as the new prisoners stepped from the transport ship onto Blackgate island. Warden Drew turned from the window as he heard a knock on his door. He watched as Officer Waite walked into the room. Drew had been hired to administer Blackgate Penitentiary. To clean up the mess that the No Man's Land had left. On the day of the Cataclysm, Blackgate housed 2060 prisoners to 273 guards. With today's new shipment of twenty prisoners, Blackgate's prisoner load would reach nearly 2500. The prisoner to guard ratio increasing from 7.5 men per guard to approximately 9 to 1. Drew knew that Blackgate's guards weren't paid enough to do the job without a certain amount of graft entering into the work. Oh, there were the dedicated officers like Waite here, but there were so many others who could be bought. Yes, for an ambitious man, administering Blackgate could prove quite profitable.
"I have the paperwork on the new prisoners, Sir."
"Thank you Officer Waite. Please put them on my desk."
"Yes Sir." Waite said as he crossed the space between the door and the desk, placing the documents in the center of the large walnut desk. He turned and walked out.
Warden Drew walked to the desk, sat down and started reviewing the documents on the new prisoners. Joey Torres' relocation had posed a problem. Of Maltz' men, he had the singular talent of easily managing locks with some finesse. As he scanned the papers to see if any of the 'new crop' had any promise, one set caught his eye; the set which began:
"NAME: Malone, Robert, A.K.A. Robbie.
AGE: 23, HEIGHT: 5' 10", WEIGHT 175 lbs., HAIR: Black, EYES: Blue..
OFFENSE: Breaking, Entering, Larceny, Assault on Governmental Officer.
SENTENCE: 24 months minimum, 60 months maximum."
Drew looked from the documents to the photo attached to the jacket, something in the eyes. Yes, this kid had an attitude. Drew continued to read about Robbie Malone.
"He might do." Drew mused.
***********************************************************************
Robbie Malone was among the twenty or so new 'residents' of Blackgate that were processed into the prison's system. With each new step, Dick Grayson rolled his eyes. 'Grayson, what have you gotten yourself into. You could be with Babs right now.' Then with a sigh he thought, 'Guess that's what we hero's give up. Bruce has GOT to tell me about how Gordon talked him into doing this way back when.'
"Malone, R." barked Officer Jeffers "00IN775236."
"What's that?" Malone said to the officer with as much attitude as he could.
"You. You're on delta level boy. That means I get to keep an eye on you."
"Woo Hoo. Lucky me."
"Smart mouth aren't you?" Jeffers said as he got in Malone's face.
"People have been known to say that."
"You won't be when I'm done with you."
"People have said that before too."
Officer Jeffers found himself moving back and breaking the stare with Malone. There was something about those eyes. The coldness, blue like hard ice, and the total lack of fear. Well Blackgate will teach him fear.
***********************************************************************
Dick's first full day at Blackgate was rather uneventful. He learned his way around the prison. There had been many changes since he was last here, but the basic layout remained the same. He first saw Eddie Maltz and his goons in the cafeteria. Surveying the cafeteria, he recognized many faces: Arthur Brown, Johnny LaMonica, Thomas Blake, the KGBeast, so many.
"Just like old home week" he had thought to himself. "Now to get cozy with them, but how to approach this."
"Malone!"
Dick closed his eyes as he heard Jeffers call for him, 'What does Officer Neanderthal want now." he thought as he turned to face the burly officer.
"What?"
"What sir."
"Whaddya want?"
"Warden wants to see you. NOW!" he barked, pointing his ASP baton toward the exit.
"Warden? What's he want with me?"
Warden Drew was sitting behind his large walnut desk when Jeffers entered the office with Robbie Malone. Drew sized up the young man before him. Yes, he would do nicely. He could tell.
"Sit down Mr. Malone." Warden Drew said as he gestured to the chair before his desk.
Jeffers grabbed the young man by the shoulders shoving him into the chair.
"Don't. Do. That. Again!" Dick growled as he glared at the officer.
"That'll be all, Jeffers. Please wait outside the door." Drew said turning the new prisoner's attention back to him. He watched as the young man slid down in the chair.
"So whaddya want with me, Warden?"
"I've been reading up on you since you got here this morning. Interesting history. In and out of the JDC, Gotham City, Gotham County and Bludhaven jails. B & E's mostly, some assaults. Your jacket says your father's Michael 'Matches' Malone. He was a resident here about 12 years ago wasn't he? Use to work for the Falcone family."
"Yeah, came in right before the first time I went into JDC."
"How old were you?"
"Nine. Why? You a bleeding social worker or something?"
"Not hardly. Your father still in the business?"
"I ain't saying nothing 'bout my Dad."
"I see you also have a younger brother Jack who was recently released from JDC."
"Is there a point to this?"
"I see patience isn't one of your virtues."
"I don't have no virtues. If I did, I wouldn't be in Blackgate now would I."
"That's good to hear. I suppose you'd rather leave here in 2 years rather than 5?"
"You suppose right."
"I can guarantee that for you."
"Really. Who do I gotta kill?" he asked nonchalantly.
"Kill. No one. Just join a group of young offenders I've been working with. Jeffers will take you to Eddie Maltz. Maltz is in charge of my group of 'boys'. You'll have special work duties, Maltz'll explain everything you have to do. You do it and you're out of here the first time your parole comes up, with some money to start you out. Interested."
"More than you can imagine, Warden." the young man said with a wide grin.
To be continued ...
"Commissioner Gordon, Detective Hawke from Safe & Lofts Division's here with a prisoner. Said he was scheduled to meet with you tonight."
"Detective Hawke?" Jim Gordon thought as he answered his secretary through the intercom. He didn't remember a meeting with Detective Hawke. He didn't remember Detective Hawke. But there was something familiar about the name in the back of his mind.
"Commissioner, Detective Hawke says you and he made the appointment last night while he was working the night shift. Said it's about a special project you're working on."
Jim Gordon's eyes grew wide with realization. Last night. Batman. 'Detective Hawke' was the disguise he used right after the cataclysm when he was pulling people from a collapsed and burning building.
"Yes, send the, uhh, 'Detective' in."
Jim Gordon watched the door as the large man entered. It amazed Gordon the range of disguises the Batman could utilize. As Hawke, he was an imposing figure. Over six feet and broad of shoulders, he seemed larger in this guise than in his Batman costume. It utterly amazed Jim Gordon.
He had a young man with him. Gordon knew who it was, but the figure before him would not be confused with Nightwing by anyone else. His hair was disheveled, he was unshaven, and his hands ..., Jim Gordon gently shook his head, they were good, both of them. He admired the little details to the young man's disguise; they had even went to the trouble of simulating finger tattoos across his knuckles, a 'tell-tale' sign of one who had spent some incarcerated time. 'Well, they've seen enough perps to know how to blend in.' Gordon thought as he shut his office door.
"I assume by this display that you've agreed to go undercover for me." Gordon said to Nightwing as he walked around his desk.
"Nice to be wanted Commissioner." Nightwing said with a grin.
"You tell him everything?" Gordon said to Batman.
"Yes. Here are the papers I've generated to get Nightwing into Blackgate. I'll handle all communications with him while he's there." Batman said handing the documents Oracle had created on Robbie Malone.
"These are perfect." Gordon said after reviewing the documents, "I've managed to have Joey Torres transferred out of Blackgate. That will make Maltz' gang a man short. I'm sure you can fill that role nicely. I need you to find out who their contact in the administration is, how many people are involved, exactly what is going on in there."
"Yep, a role I can fill." Nightwing replied. "Time to get started, Commish."
Gordon looked from Nightwing to Batman. Even disguised, Gordon saw the concern in Batman's eyes. As a father, Gordon could relate. He wouldn't be happy about sending his child into a place like Blackgate either. No matter how well trained that child might be. He pushed the intercom button on his phone,
"Send Bullock in here."
Harvey Bullock soon walked into Commissioner's Gordon office, "Ya' needed me, Commish?"
"Yes, Detective. Would you mind seeing to it that Mr. 'Malone' here gets placed back in lock-up, I still have a few things to discuss with Detective Hawke."
"Sure Commish." Bullock said as he grabbed the young man by the shoulders, "Come on you." as they headed out the door.
Batman, as Detective Hawke, watched Bullock take Nightwing away, away to start this undercover operation in Blackgate. Back to Blackgate, where he had so narrowly escaped death not so long ago. Batman steeled himself. He was Batman, he didn't show emotion during a case, no matter what turmoil his insides were in, Batman didn't show emotion.
Gordon watched 'Detective Hawke'. He saw Batman's jaw flinch. Gordon knew that he worried about the boy. Gordon worried about the boy. But that 'boy' has proven himself more than once to be capable of taking care of himself, and taking care of his business, of being a man.
***********************************************************************
Paul Drew, the warden of Blackgate, watched as the new prisoners stepped from the transport ship onto Blackgate island. Warden Drew turned from the window as he heard a knock on his door. He watched as Officer Waite walked into the room. Drew had been hired to administer Blackgate Penitentiary. To clean up the mess that the No Man's Land had left. On the day of the Cataclysm, Blackgate housed 2060 prisoners to 273 guards. With today's new shipment of twenty prisoners, Blackgate's prisoner load would reach nearly 2500. The prisoner to guard ratio increasing from 7.5 men per guard to approximately 9 to 1. Drew knew that Blackgate's guards weren't paid enough to do the job without a certain amount of graft entering into the work. Oh, there were the dedicated officers like Waite here, but there were so many others who could be bought. Yes, for an ambitious man, administering Blackgate could prove quite profitable.
"I have the paperwork on the new prisoners, Sir."
"Thank you Officer Waite. Please put them on my desk."
"Yes Sir." Waite said as he crossed the space between the door and the desk, placing the documents in the center of the large walnut desk. He turned and walked out.
Warden Drew walked to the desk, sat down and started reviewing the documents on the new prisoners. Joey Torres' relocation had posed a problem. Of Maltz' men, he had the singular talent of easily managing locks with some finesse. As he scanned the papers to see if any of the 'new crop' had any promise, one set caught his eye; the set which began:
"NAME: Malone, Robert, A.K.A. Robbie.
AGE: 23, HEIGHT: 5' 10", WEIGHT 175 lbs., HAIR: Black, EYES: Blue..
OFFENSE: Breaking, Entering, Larceny, Assault on Governmental Officer.
SENTENCE: 24 months minimum, 60 months maximum."
Drew looked from the documents to the photo attached to the jacket, something in the eyes. Yes, this kid had an attitude. Drew continued to read about Robbie Malone.
"He might do." Drew mused.
***********************************************************************
Robbie Malone was among the twenty or so new 'residents' of Blackgate that were processed into the prison's system. With each new step, Dick Grayson rolled his eyes. 'Grayson, what have you gotten yourself into. You could be with Babs right now.' Then with a sigh he thought, 'Guess that's what we hero's give up. Bruce has GOT to tell me about how Gordon talked him into doing this way back when.'
"Malone, R." barked Officer Jeffers "00IN775236."
"What's that?" Malone said to the officer with as much attitude as he could.
"You. You're on delta level boy. That means I get to keep an eye on you."
"Woo Hoo. Lucky me."
"Smart mouth aren't you?" Jeffers said as he got in Malone's face.
"People have been known to say that."
"You won't be when I'm done with you."
"People have said that before too."
Officer Jeffers found himself moving back and breaking the stare with Malone. There was something about those eyes. The coldness, blue like hard ice, and the total lack of fear. Well Blackgate will teach him fear.
***********************************************************************
Dick's first full day at Blackgate was rather uneventful. He learned his way around the prison. There had been many changes since he was last here, but the basic layout remained the same. He first saw Eddie Maltz and his goons in the cafeteria. Surveying the cafeteria, he recognized many faces: Arthur Brown, Johnny LaMonica, Thomas Blake, the KGBeast, so many.
"Just like old home week" he had thought to himself. "Now to get cozy with them, but how to approach this."
"Malone!"
Dick closed his eyes as he heard Jeffers call for him, 'What does Officer Neanderthal want now." he thought as he turned to face the burly officer.
"What?"
"What sir."
"Whaddya want?"
"Warden wants to see you. NOW!" he barked, pointing his ASP baton toward the exit.
"Warden? What's he want with me?"
Warden Drew was sitting behind his large walnut desk when Jeffers entered the office with Robbie Malone. Drew sized up the young man before him. Yes, he would do nicely. He could tell.
"Sit down Mr. Malone." Warden Drew said as he gestured to the chair before his desk.
Jeffers grabbed the young man by the shoulders shoving him into the chair.
"Don't. Do. That. Again!" Dick growled as he glared at the officer.
"That'll be all, Jeffers. Please wait outside the door." Drew said turning the new prisoner's attention back to him. He watched as the young man slid down in the chair.
"So whaddya want with me, Warden?"
"I've been reading up on you since you got here this morning. Interesting history. In and out of the JDC, Gotham City, Gotham County and Bludhaven jails. B & E's mostly, some assaults. Your jacket says your father's Michael 'Matches' Malone. He was a resident here about 12 years ago wasn't he? Use to work for the Falcone family."
"Yeah, came in right before the first time I went into JDC."
"How old were you?"
"Nine. Why? You a bleeding social worker or something?"
"Not hardly. Your father still in the business?"
"I ain't saying nothing 'bout my Dad."
"I see you also have a younger brother Jack who was recently released from JDC."
"Is there a point to this?"
"I see patience isn't one of your virtues."
"I don't have no virtues. If I did, I wouldn't be in Blackgate now would I."
"That's good to hear. I suppose you'd rather leave here in 2 years rather than 5?"
"You suppose right."
"I can guarantee that for you."
"Really. Who do I gotta kill?" he asked nonchalantly.
"Kill. No one. Just join a group of young offenders I've been working with. Jeffers will take you to Eddie Maltz. Maltz is in charge of my group of 'boys'. You'll have special work duties, Maltz'll explain everything you have to do. You do it and you're out of here the first time your parole comes up, with some money to start you out. Interested."
"More than you can imagine, Warden." the young man said with a wide grin.
To be continued ...
