Chapter Two

Encrypted Journal Entry -- Barbara Gordon

May 26th

Two weeks … and no new victims. Why?

If you'll forgive the cliché, it's been quiet … too quiet.

According to the coroner's reports, each of the victims was shot first … and then stabbed post-mortem shortly thereafter. I take small comfort in the fact that their deaths came quickly … without prolonged suffering.

I've sent Huntress out to talk to the hookers around town. The best she's been able to come up with is that each of the victims was last seen with a guy named "Steve". This … "Steve" … has dark hair, drives a maroon SUV, and speaks with a southern accent.

That southern accent -- coupled with the profile of each of the victims -- disturbs me. I know of only one man -- one man who speaks with a southern accent, at least -- in recent memory who would be driven to commit such random acts of violence. That -- coupled with the profile of his choice of victims -- has narrowed the list of suspects considerably.

The question now -- if it is indeed HIM -- is … why? Is he sending out a signal? Or are we witnessing a display of misplaced rage?

From The New Gotham Gazette (May 30th):

Deputy Mayor Opens Mouth, Inserts Foot

By Tim Sloane

Gazette Staff Writer

NEW GOTHAM CITY -- While speaking at a luncheon at the New Gotham Heritage Club yesterday, Deputy Mayor Ron Carlton addressed an audience member's question about the status of the investigation into the so-called "New Gotham Slasher" by replying, "It's such a shame that this person's only into dark-haired women. I think they're performing a public service."

Almost immediately, City Hall sought to distance itself from Deputy Mayor Carlton's seemingly off-the-cuff remarks. A spokesman for the Mayor's office is on record as saying, "The views expressed by Deputy Mayor Carlton are strictly his own and do not necessarily reflect those of either the New Gotham Police Department or this Administration."

"We are outraged that anyone -- especially a member of this Administration -- would regard the slaughter of innocent women as a 'public service'," said Eleanor Randall, President of the New Gotham Chapter of the National Organization for Women. "Each woman was someone's daughter, someone's sister, someone's friend."

Thus far, the so-called "New Gotham Slasher" has murdered three women, most of them prostitutes. Police officials had no comment on the incident as of press time.

"You think it's Darryl Pitts?" said Helena.

"There is that … disturbing possibility," Barbara replied.

"What would drive him … to THIS?" Helena interjected. "The Darryl Pitts I knew was a rapist, drug dealer, and child molester. What's made him want to hack up prostitutes? And why choose prostitutes in the first place?"

"My guess is that he chose prostitutes because (1) they made for readily available victims and (2) if one disappeared, hardly anyone would notice. As for why he's decided to cut em up, consider the profile of the victims: all in their mid-to-late twenties, all have short dark hair and slender builds." Barbara paused. "Remind you of anyone you know?"

Helena gulped nervously. "Me?" she squeaked.

"More likely, Huntress," Barbara replied. "He may well be venting his frustration with HER on the victims."

"Mmm … dare I ask why?"

"Huntress put his brother in prison for the next thirty years," Barbara replied. "In Darryl's mind, that's probably reason enough." She then changed the subject. "I've been monitoring his bank accounts," she said. "Until recently, they were quiet." Barbara paused. "Lately, he's made a series of withdrawals … rather LARGE withdrawals, I might add … from an ATM on the Lower East Side. My guess is that he's attempting to live a cash existence down there."

"So … what now?"

"First, look for the maroon SUV. Check the rooming houses and residential hotels down there -- it should stick out like a sore thumb."

Helena nodded. Barbara continued, "Next, ask for 'Steve'. I'm beginning to suspect that the name might be an alias. I want to see if Darryl and 'Steve' are one and the same. Get a last name if at all possible."

Helena nodded once more. "Will do," she said.