Carlos Montoya and Dick Grayson walked from the carport towards Mitzu's.
Montoya had serious misgivings about having diner with a person that was
connected to the mob. Still if they wanted the information then he would
need to play along. He watched his partner walk with his jacket partially
open. Dick had worn an expensive pair of slack and an even more expensive
shirt. By comparison Montoya's attire seemed like second-hand store sale
items, but Dick had assured him that he was fine. In any event it was clear
that Dick was concerned about meeting his father. Dick's face showed a
conflict and Montoya wasn't sure if it was in relation to his father or
Andrea Beaumont.
As they approached the restaurant Carlos noticed a group round the corner from the opposite direction. In front was an old man very well dressed walking with a young man dressed close to the same as Dick, in fact their clothing was almost identical. It seemed to Carlos that the old man and his companion bore a striking resemblance to one another. Behind them two woman one older walked chatting.
As the gray-haired gentleman noticed Carlos and his partner and raised his head in greeting. Montoya caught Dick return the nod as they continued walking. At this Montoya took a more comprehensive look at the man approaching. He was tall and muscular; at least he gave the impression of a man that spent time keeping fit and lifting weights. His gait seemed strong, but it had a very noticeable limp on the right leg. His face seemed to wear a map of hardship and disappointments, but still smiled. The man's eyes were ice blue and seemed to glow as if a fire burned just behind them. They also moved like with the vigilant and systematic fashion of a detective. Carlos found a man constantly on alert and careful in any environment. If this was Bruce Wayne then there was no doubt that things needed to be handle with the utmost caution or he would make things difficult in ways Montoya couldn't even begin to imagine.
"Carlos, I'd like you to meet me father; Bruce Wayne. Bruce this is my partner Carlos Montoya." Dick's manners were on high alert.
"It's a pleasure to meet you." Bruce's response was said with a formal, but warm demeanor.
Carlos could tell that it would take a jackhammer to get under the exterior of this man. "I'm honored to make you acquaintance Mr. Wayne."
"Please, call me Bruce." His manner was casual, but his tone was guarded. "This is Terry McGinnis, his mother Mary, and lastly my I introduce Andrea Beaumont."
Andrea Beaumont followed suit with Dick's father, "It's nice to finally meet you Dick. Detective Montoya, a pleasure."
Terry nodded to Dick and Carlos. Mary voiced her salutations and they entered the restaurant. Carlos watched as Bruce was immediately recognized and greeted by the hostess. Within minutes the restaurant's owner was talking with Bruce. They were rambling in perfect Japanese. He also noticed that Dick was perfectly aware of what was being said. The owner noticed Dick and smiled broadly at him commenting in Japanese on how long it had been since he had seen him. Dick was genuinely happy to see Mitzu as well. Their coats were taken and they were seated in record time. The group had been taken to the top floor and seated in a private room. Carlos was beginning to see why Dick and the Commissioner where using kit-gloves, this man was smart and powerful, not to mention he obviously had pull in Gotham.
They sat semi-circle around a small table leaving a space for serving. It was a traditional Japanese setting with a low table and floor cushions. Bruce and Andrea sat next to each other and Terry placed himself between his mother and Dick. Carlos watches and Terry and Dick began chatting with one another at an amazing speed. Meanwhile Mary, Andrea, and Bruce talked quietly to one another. Soon a woman in Geisha attire entered the room and placed Tea, water and sake around the table. Montoya took note that Bruce was not drinking the Sake. It was odd, but given his age he may not be able to drink. Bruce and their private hostess chatted quietly and quickly in Japanese.
Their hostess left and Carlos watched as Bruce motioned to Terry who immediately responded. Bruce inquired as to whether he had told Dick about the family business yet and Terry raised an eyebrow. Bruce nudged Terry verbally and Terry informed Dick the Andrea was his grandmother. Dick looked at Bruce shrugged his shoulders. Carlos noticed a paleness come over Dick's face. Bruce smiled at Dick's reaction and looked at Mary who then turned to Dick and asked how he felt about having a sister. Montoya concluded that Mary was Andrea and Bruce's daughter. Terry continued explaining the evolution of what happened after Andrea left Bruce before their feast was presented.
Carlos enjoyed the amazing food that was presented to the table. When the meal was finished he watched as the hostess oversaw the clearing of the table and brought more tea and sake to the table. Bruce thanked the hostess and they settled in for a private conversation. Carlos could feel that he was about to get the payoff for his patience at putting up with the lengthy wait he had endured through diner.
Andrea began to speak; recalling yet again her lifelong ordeal for the benefit of the detectives. She detailed the struggle to escape and protect her daughter by gathering blackmail information against the Valestras. For a time it worked, but once Mary was gone the gangsters believed that she would turn over the information and began to search for her. She had stayed one step ahead until a few weeks earlier. Knowing that they had the information she came to Gotham to warn her daughter.
After Andrea was finished Bruce stated, "It's getting late, Andrea can meet with you tomorrow to offer an official statement."
"That should be fine; the sooner the better." Dick responds.
Carlos turns to his partner and whispered, "What are you doing. We should be brining her in tonight and getting this done."
Dick responded in equally low volume, "That would be a bad idea. We should give her till the morning."
"We could arrest her right now and have her in the police station in half an hour. What are we waiting for?" Montoya continued, raising his voice.
Bruce spoke up very loudly and commandingly at Montoya, "You could do that. If you did I can assure you that Andrea would be out of your custody within hours and you would loose her cooperation. Not to mention the lawsuit I could bring against the city for not doing their job and protecting Andrea in the first place. Believe me, you would rather be our friend than loose your badge."
Montoya looked at Dick who was staring at him like he wanted to rip his lungs out. Dick shook his head at Carlos slowly. He realized that he had not only strained their case, but their friendship in the process of pushing things. He looked at Bruce; his eyes had narrowed and his voice had dropped during his retort and his demeanor had changed. Carlos grasped that he had made a mistake in pushing the old man. Clearly there was a great deal more to this man. Carlos realized that he had changed everything by pushing and that not working together meant risking their star witness's life. "I'm sorry. I just want to wrap things up and get home. I didn't mean anything except to stress the situation."
"I understand Detective. You'll have Andrea's statement and your evidence by tomorrow afternoon." Bruce signed the check and stood up. "I'll contact you in the morning to let you now that everything is in town and ready for you."
Carlos watched as Bruce moved toward Dick. Dick stood and Bruce gave his son a hug telling him not to worry. Bruce turned to the others and they left Dick and Carlos to themselves. Dick faced his partner and delivers a look that turned him cold. "You realize that you have not only strained the open communication that we had with that woman, but you have compromised her life with that little stunt."
Carlos looked down. He realized that this was a deep and personal issue for his partner and that Dick wouldn't take anymore or he would quit and side with his father. Dick stood and left the restaurant without saying a word. Carlos sat alone with his pride.
As they approached the restaurant Carlos noticed a group round the corner from the opposite direction. In front was an old man very well dressed walking with a young man dressed close to the same as Dick, in fact their clothing was almost identical. It seemed to Carlos that the old man and his companion bore a striking resemblance to one another. Behind them two woman one older walked chatting.
As the gray-haired gentleman noticed Carlos and his partner and raised his head in greeting. Montoya caught Dick return the nod as they continued walking. At this Montoya took a more comprehensive look at the man approaching. He was tall and muscular; at least he gave the impression of a man that spent time keeping fit and lifting weights. His gait seemed strong, but it had a very noticeable limp on the right leg. His face seemed to wear a map of hardship and disappointments, but still smiled. The man's eyes were ice blue and seemed to glow as if a fire burned just behind them. They also moved like with the vigilant and systematic fashion of a detective. Carlos found a man constantly on alert and careful in any environment. If this was Bruce Wayne then there was no doubt that things needed to be handle with the utmost caution or he would make things difficult in ways Montoya couldn't even begin to imagine.
"Carlos, I'd like you to meet me father; Bruce Wayne. Bruce this is my partner Carlos Montoya." Dick's manners were on high alert.
"It's a pleasure to meet you." Bruce's response was said with a formal, but warm demeanor.
Carlos could tell that it would take a jackhammer to get under the exterior of this man. "I'm honored to make you acquaintance Mr. Wayne."
"Please, call me Bruce." His manner was casual, but his tone was guarded. "This is Terry McGinnis, his mother Mary, and lastly my I introduce Andrea Beaumont."
Andrea Beaumont followed suit with Dick's father, "It's nice to finally meet you Dick. Detective Montoya, a pleasure."
Terry nodded to Dick and Carlos. Mary voiced her salutations and they entered the restaurant. Carlos watched as Bruce was immediately recognized and greeted by the hostess. Within minutes the restaurant's owner was talking with Bruce. They were rambling in perfect Japanese. He also noticed that Dick was perfectly aware of what was being said. The owner noticed Dick and smiled broadly at him commenting in Japanese on how long it had been since he had seen him. Dick was genuinely happy to see Mitzu as well. Their coats were taken and they were seated in record time. The group had been taken to the top floor and seated in a private room. Carlos was beginning to see why Dick and the Commissioner where using kit-gloves, this man was smart and powerful, not to mention he obviously had pull in Gotham.
They sat semi-circle around a small table leaving a space for serving. It was a traditional Japanese setting with a low table and floor cushions. Bruce and Andrea sat next to each other and Terry placed himself between his mother and Dick. Carlos watches and Terry and Dick began chatting with one another at an amazing speed. Meanwhile Mary, Andrea, and Bruce talked quietly to one another. Soon a woman in Geisha attire entered the room and placed Tea, water and sake around the table. Montoya took note that Bruce was not drinking the Sake. It was odd, but given his age he may not be able to drink. Bruce and their private hostess chatted quietly and quickly in Japanese.
Their hostess left and Carlos watched as Bruce motioned to Terry who immediately responded. Bruce inquired as to whether he had told Dick about the family business yet and Terry raised an eyebrow. Bruce nudged Terry verbally and Terry informed Dick the Andrea was his grandmother. Dick looked at Bruce shrugged his shoulders. Carlos noticed a paleness come over Dick's face. Bruce smiled at Dick's reaction and looked at Mary who then turned to Dick and asked how he felt about having a sister. Montoya concluded that Mary was Andrea and Bruce's daughter. Terry continued explaining the evolution of what happened after Andrea left Bruce before their feast was presented.
Carlos enjoyed the amazing food that was presented to the table. When the meal was finished he watched as the hostess oversaw the clearing of the table and brought more tea and sake to the table. Bruce thanked the hostess and they settled in for a private conversation. Carlos could feel that he was about to get the payoff for his patience at putting up with the lengthy wait he had endured through diner.
Andrea began to speak; recalling yet again her lifelong ordeal for the benefit of the detectives. She detailed the struggle to escape and protect her daughter by gathering blackmail information against the Valestras. For a time it worked, but once Mary was gone the gangsters believed that she would turn over the information and began to search for her. She had stayed one step ahead until a few weeks earlier. Knowing that they had the information she came to Gotham to warn her daughter.
After Andrea was finished Bruce stated, "It's getting late, Andrea can meet with you tomorrow to offer an official statement."
"That should be fine; the sooner the better." Dick responds.
Carlos turns to his partner and whispered, "What are you doing. We should be brining her in tonight and getting this done."
Dick responded in equally low volume, "That would be a bad idea. We should give her till the morning."
"We could arrest her right now and have her in the police station in half an hour. What are we waiting for?" Montoya continued, raising his voice.
Bruce spoke up very loudly and commandingly at Montoya, "You could do that. If you did I can assure you that Andrea would be out of your custody within hours and you would loose her cooperation. Not to mention the lawsuit I could bring against the city for not doing their job and protecting Andrea in the first place. Believe me, you would rather be our friend than loose your badge."
Montoya looked at Dick who was staring at him like he wanted to rip his lungs out. Dick shook his head at Carlos slowly. He realized that he had not only strained their case, but their friendship in the process of pushing things. He looked at Bruce; his eyes had narrowed and his voice had dropped during his retort and his demeanor had changed. Carlos grasped that he had made a mistake in pushing the old man. Clearly there was a great deal more to this man. Carlos realized that he had changed everything by pushing and that not working together meant risking their star witness's life. "I'm sorry. I just want to wrap things up and get home. I didn't mean anything except to stress the situation."
"I understand Detective. You'll have Andrea's statement and your evidence by tomorrow afternoon." Bruce signed the check and stood up. "I'll contact you in the morning to let you now that everything is in town and ready for you."
Carlos watched as Bruce moved toward Dick. Dick stood and Bruce gave his son a hug telling him not to worry. Bruce turned to the others and they left Dick and Carlos to themselves. Dick faced his partner and delivers a look that turned him cold. "You realize that you have not only strained the open communication that we had with that woman, but you have compromised her life with that little stunt."
Carlos looked down. He realized that this was a deep and personal issue for his partner and that Dick wouldn't take anymore or he would quit and side with his father. Dick stood and left the restaurant without saying a word. Carlos sat alone with his pride.