There's a lot of jumping around in this chapter; so I have put change of
location markers in to help transitioning.
************** Commissioner Gordon, District Attorney Sam Young, and Detective Carlos Montoya waited patiently for Andrea. They had gone over all the information that had been delivered that morning and were anxious to put the finishing touches on their investigation. The Gotham police had already been issued with arrest warrants for Anthony Valestra and several of his associates and business partners. All that remained was Andrea's testimony to seal the case, and this was a formality as the evidence was overwhelming. The main purpose of the interview was to insure that her involvement was documented and Valestra's attorneys wouldn't be able to use her against them in court.
Andrea entered the room and nodded to Detective Montoya. After brief introductions Barbara activated the recording devices and Andrea settled in to recount her story for the last time.
Bruce pulled into the Museum of Natural History's parking garage as he listened to the weather report. The reporter commented "Snow turning to freezing rain by midnight."
"Just great." The car parked and Bruce turned off the radio and dialed Mary. He wanted to get her, Terry, and Matt to stay at his house until things settled down. His concerned had only grown during the day.
Mary answered the phone. "Mary. I know how you feel, but I really wish that you and the boys would come to stay with your mother and I until this is over." Bruce had no time for chitchat and he was desperate to get his daughter and grandsons under his protection.
"I can't. I have to work tomorrow, and we can take care of things. The police will have the Valestras in custody but nightfall." Mary understood Bruce's feelings, but she couldn't believe that things could possibly get so bad as to warrant her leaving her home.
Bruce was distressed by his daughter's decision. He realized that she had made up her mind and that there was nothing he could do to change it. "All right, but watch your back and don't' let Matt out of your sight for a minute."
Mary tried to calm her father. "Don't worry, I've dealt with the Valestras before. I know what I'm doing."
"I hope your right." Bruce waited for Mary to hang up the phone hoping she would change her mind. She didn't. He tried to put his troubles behind him and concentrate on helping Chelsea get organized.
As he move through the museum hallways the sun was shining, but he couldn't get his mind off of the coming storm. A real sense of dread filled him. His instincts had never failed him when it came to impending disaster and he knew that be tomorrow tragedy would either fall or be narrowly averted.
The large office was filled with antique desks and cabinets. Chelsea sat near a window at a large oak desk with paperwork and diagrams strew heavily over the surface. She smiled as he moved to the desk and tried to concentrate on the information she had before her. Chelsea watched as Bruce sorted through the documents. His face was unusually tense and he was taking pauses between sorting the information as if the refocus his attentions to what lay before him. She placed her hand on his arm and gently tried to coax his troubles to the surface. "Hey what's the matter? You look like you just fought a war."
Bruce turned to her with a look of surprise. "Do I really look that bad?"
"Well maybe not that bad, but something is eating at you. I know you're not big on talking . still maybe just letting it out might help." Chelsea knew that more than likely he would just tell her that he was fine. Bruce looked down debating weather or not to vent some of his fears. He knew that not talking had cost him dear and that at least letting Chelsea knew how he felt might do some small good.
"You haven't talked to Terry or Max lately have you?" Bruce smiled sadly at Chelsea.
"No. Why, is something wrong with Terry? Did he get hurt?" Her concern was obvious. Bruce realized that he still had a lot of work to go on dealing with people on a real level.
"I'm sorry. Terry's fine. A few days ago someone I hadn't seen in decades came back into my life with major revelations and a truckload of trouble. My instincts are telling me that by tomorrow something bad will happen, and my instincts are rarely wrong." Bruce didn't want to tell Chelsea much more. There was too much at stake and no reason to get her involved. On the other hand he hated not being open with her.
Closeness had always been hard for Bruce and the realization of why always tore at him. Chelsea understood that for all his greatness when it came to expressing deep feelings and relationships in many ways he was still a little boy. She also knew that her friendship and patience had touched his heart and helped him to grow more in the time he had known her than he had most of his life. "It's ok, no matter what happens I'll be here for you. You don't have to tell me about it now; just take a deep breath and lets get back to work."
The words calmed Bruce. It helped to know that the people he cared for would stand by him. He took a moment to soak in her words and then started to explain his organizing of the proposals they had worked on so that she would know exactly how to keep track of them in the future. In a short time they had completed sorting through everything and Bruce grabbed his coat. He turned to Chelsea and stared at her for a moment. He moved forward, "Thanks. I just needed some time to get my head together. You're a good friend Chelsea and I'm lucky to have you."
Chelsea smiled at Bruce and leaned over and kissed him on his cheek. Bruce was uncomfortable with her actions, but understood that she just wanted to let him know that everything would be ok. Chelsea thanked him for his help and commented that she still had time to meet Dana and Max.
He finished saying goodbye and returned to his car. Looking at his watch he realized that it was only 3:00; plenty of time to sort out the information he had collected waiting for him at home.
Chelsea finished placing the information together for her presentation the following day. She was grateful for Bruce's help getting things together; she couldn't have done it without him. Once things were in order she left the museum and found Dana and Max at the Pizza Palace in record time. As she approached her friends when the familiar face of Matt McGinnis emerged. Max explained that Terry had been running some errands when Mary received an emergency call from work and needed someone to watch Matt. Chelsea didn't mind Matt; he wasn't nearly as much trouble as Terry made him out to be. Matt grabbed credits for the games and disappeared back into the crowd. Chelsea grabbed a slice of pizza and sat with her friends.
Terry looked at the display case with increasing confusion. He should have brought Bruce with him to help figure things out, but he wanted to take care of this and Bruce had too much on his mind to be bothered. The rings in the display case gleamed back at him all demanding his attention. Finally he found a beautiful platinum ring with a large heart shaped diamond centered beside to small black stones. "It's prefect" Terry thought to himself, "Dana will love it." He motioned to the clerk. Upon introducing himself the clerk sparked with recognition, "Mr. Wayne had said that you might be stopping by for a ring. This is an excellent selection sir. I'll take care of this for you right away." In a flash the clerk disappeared and reemerged with the ring boxed and ready for him. Terry moved to offer payment to the clerk who waved him off saying that Mr. Wayne had already taken care of the purchase and even had gone so far as to correctly predict the ring Terry would choose. Terry left the store with Dana's ring happy and unsteady.
Mary arrived at work to find that her supervisor was nowhere to be found. She moved to her contact file and called her supervisor at home to find that he had no idea what she was talking about. The call had been a fake. She remembered Bruce's words and became mad at herself for not being more careful. Mary hurried home to try to stop any trouble.
Andrea finished with her statement and reviewing things with Sam Young. She moved to leave when Dick Grayson entered the room, He seemed upset, but told Andrea that there was nothing to worry about. The police had already managed to arrest several of Anthony Valestra's key people and foot soldiers. Anthony and several of his people in Gotham were still at large, but that they should be in custody soon. Andrea was subdued by the information, but still felt uneasy. Leaving the police station she tried calling Mary and only found an answering machine. Bruce wasn't home yet as well. Dick escorted her to her car assuring her that everything would be all right. She drove from the police station and headed straight to her daughter's hoping that she would find someone home.
Max, Chelsea, and Dana left the Pizza Palace with Matt in tow. He had hated leaving and could have played there for hours more if they had let him. They needed to get Matt home as Terry had work to do with Mr. Wayne in the evening. Chelsea was astounded by Max and Dana's revelation that Terry was actually Bruce's grandson and that Terry's grandmother was being chased by the mob. Now she understood why Bruce had been so bothered earlier in the day. They moved through an alley only to be stopped by several armed men. The men moved forward and tried to take Matt. Max and Chelsea moved forward and were knocked out by the men. Dana realized that there was nothing she could do. She turned with Matt to run, but it was too late. The men grabbed Matt and disappeared from view.
Mary entered her home having returned in record time. The apartment was empty; the only noise the ringing of the phone. She moved quickly to the phone. On the other end a man informed her that if she of Andrea wanted to see Matt alive, then Andrea had to meet them in exchange for her son. Mary fell to her knees hearing Matt yelling at the men somewhere in the room the man was calling her from. Then man gave her specific direction on where to meet them and warned her that they would kill Matt if the even smelled the police. She fought the tears knowing that her son's life depended on her ingraining all the information she could into her head. The phone disconnected as soon as the man finished. Mary let her tears flow as she dropped the phone to the ground.
Bruce pulled up to his home. The snow had already started to fall. He moved through the house and found it still empty. Andrea would be home soon he thought. He moved downstairs and began to go through the file that the computer had collected while he was gone. By the time he had organized the various hideouts and front businesses that Anthony had connections to in Gotham the afternoon had passed and evening was settling in. Bruce took note of the time and realized that something must be horribly wrong for Andrea not to be home.
Andrea moved to the front door of her daughter's home. The door was unlocked. She moved through the apartment to find Mary sitting on the floor in tears. Andrea held her daughter dreading what news her daughter would have for her when she could recover her voice. It took almost half an hour to calm Mary to the point where she could talk. Valestra had Matt and he would kill him if Andrea didn't give herself up. Mary could barely manage to make more than three words at a time. It took forever, but Andrea managed to get all the information from Mary. She hung up the phone and then told her daughter to call the police and inform Detective Grayson of what had happened. Andrea waited while her daughter made the call and until the police arrived. Once there, Andrea disappeared before anyone knew what had happened. Darkness had already enveloped the city and the snow had turned to sheets of ice.
Andrea moved drove quickly to the meeting. Her thoughts careened through the events of her life as the car slid through the streets. She had no choice now; all that mattered was Matt's life.
************** Commissioner Gordon, District Attorney Sam Young, and Detective Carlos Montoya waited patiently for Andrea. They had gone over all the information that had been delivered that morning and were anxious to put the finishing touches on their investigation. The Gotham police had already been issued with arrest warrants for Anthony Valestra and several of his associates and business partners. All that remained was Andrea's testimony to seal the case, and this was a formality as the evidence was overwhelming. The main purpose of the interview was to insure that her involvement was documented and Valestra's attorneys wouldn't be able to use her against them in court.
Andrea entered the room and nodded to Detective Montoya. After brief introductions Barbara activated the recording devices and Andrea settled in to recount her story for the last time.
Bruce pulled into the Museum of Natural History's parking garage as he listened to the weather report. The reporter commented "Snow turning to freezing rain by midnight."
"Just great." The car parked and Bruce turned off the radio and dialed Mary. He wanted to get her, Terry, and Matt to stay at his house until things settled down. His concerned had only grown during the day.
Mary answered the phone. "Mary. I know how you feel, but I really wish that you and the boys would come to stay with your mother and I until this is over." Bruce had no time for chitchat and he was desperate to get his daughter and grandsons under his protection.
"I can't. I have to work tomorrow, and we can take care of things. The police will have the Valestras in custody but nightfall." Mary understood Bruce's feelings, but she couldn't believe that things could possibly get so bad as to warrant her leaving her home.
Bruce was distressed by his daughter's decision. He realized that she had made up her mind and that there was nothing he could do to change it. "All right, but watch your back and don't' let Matt out of your sight for a minute."
Mary tried to calm her father. "Don't worry, I've dealt with the Valestras before. I know what I'm doing."
"I hope your right." Bruce waited for Mary to hang up the phone hoping she would change her mind. She didn't. He tried to put his troubles behind him and concentrate on helping Chelsea get organized.
As he move through the museum hallways the sun was shining, but he couldn't get his mind off of the coming storm. A real sense of dread filled him. His instincts had never failed him when it came to impending disaster and he knew that be tomorrow tragedy would either fall or be narrowly averted.
The large office was filled with antique desks and cabinets. Chelsea sat near a window at a large oak desk with paperwork and diagrams strew heavily over the surface. She smiled as he moved to the desk and tried to concentrate on the information she had before her. Chelsea watched as Bruce sorted through the documents. His face was unusually tense and he was taking pauses between sorting the information as if the refocus his attentions to what lay before him. She placed her hand on his arm and gently tried to coax his troubles to the surface. "Hey what's the matter? You look like you just fought a war."
Bruce turned to her with a look of surprise. "Do I really look that bad?"
"Well maybe not that bad, but something is eating at you. I know you're not big on talking . still maybe just letting it out might help." Chelsea knew that more than likely he would just tell her that he was fine. Bruce looked down debating weather or not to vent some of his fears. He knew that not talking had cost him dear and that at least letting Chelsea knew how he felt might do some small good.
"You haven't talked to Terry or Max lately have you?" Bruce smiled sadly at Chelsea.
"No. Why, is something wrong with Terry? Did he get hurt?" Her concern was obvious. Bruce realized that he still had a lot of work to go on dealing with people on a real level.
"I'm sorry. Terry's fine. A few days ago someone I hadn't seen in decades came back into my life with major revelations and a truckload of trouble. My instincts are telling me that by tomorrow something bad will happen, and my instincts are rarely wrong." Bruce didn't want to tell Chelsea much more. There was too much at stake and no reason to get her involved. On the other hand he hated not being open with her.
Closeness had always been hard for Bruce and the realization of why always tore at him. Chelsea understood that for all his greatness when it came to expressing deep feelings and relationships in many ways he was still a little boy. She also knew that her friendship and patience had touched his heart and helped him to grow more in the time he had known her than he had most of his life. "It's ok, no matter what happens I'll be here for you. You don't have to tell me about it now; just take a deep breath and lets get back to work."
The words calmed Bruce. It helped to know that the people he cared for would stand by him. He took a moment to soak in her words and then started to explain his organizing of the proposals they had worked on so that she would know exactly how to keep track of them in the future. In a short time they had completed sorting through everything and Bruce grabbed his coat. He turned to Chelsea and stared at her for a moment. He moved forward, "Thanks. I just needed some time to get my head together. You're a good friend Chelsea and I'm lucky to have you."
Chelsea smiled at Bruce and leaned over and kissed him on his cheek. Bruce was uncomfortable with her actions, but understood that she just wanted to let him know that everything would be ok. Chelsea thanked him for his help and commented that she still had time to meet Dana and Max.
He finished saying goodbye and returned to his car. Looking at his watch he realized that it was only 3:00; plenty of time to sort out the information he had collected waiting for him at home.
Chelsea finished placing the information together for her presentation the following day. She was grateful for Bruce's help getting things together; she couldn't have done it without him. Once things were in order she left the museum and found Dana and Max at the Pizza Palace in record time. As she approached her friends when the familiar face of Matt McGinnis emerged. Max explained that Terry had been running some errands when Mary received an emergency call from work and needed someone to watch Matt. Chelsea didn't mind Matt; he wasn't nearly as much trouble as Terry made him out to be. Matt grabbed credits for the games and disappeared back into the crowd. Chelsea grabbed a slice of pizza and sat with her friends.
Terry looked at the display case with increasing confusion. He should have brought Bruce with him to help figure things out, but he wanted to take care of this and Bruce had too much on his mind to be bothered. The rings in the display case gleamed back at him all demanding his attention. Finally he found a beautiful platinum ring with a large heart shaped diamond centered beside to small black stones. "It's prefect" Terry thought to himself, "Dana will love it." He motioned to the clerk. Upon introducing himself the clerk sparked with recognition, "Mr. Wayne had said that you might be stopping by for a ring. This is an excellent selection sir. I'll take care of this for you right away." In a flash the clerk disappeared and reemerged with the ring boxed and ready for him. Terry moved to offer payment to the clerk who waved him off saying that Mr. Wayne had already taken care of the purchase and even had gone so far as to correctly predict the ring Terry would choose. Terry left the store with Dana's ring happy and unsteady.
Mary arrived at work to find that her supervisor was nowhere to be found. She moved to her contact file and called her supervisor at home to find that he had no idea what she was talking about. The call had been a fake. She remembered Bruce's words and became mad at herself for not being more careful. Mary hurried home to try to stop any trouble.
Andrea finished with her statement and reviewing things with Sam Young. She moved to leave when Dick Grayson entered the room, He seemed upset, but told Andrea that there was nothing to worry about. The police had already managed to arrest several of Anthony Valestra's key people and foot soldiers. Anthony and several of his people in Gotham were still at large, but that they should be in custody soon. Andrea was subdued by the information, but still felt uneasy. Leaving the police station she tried calling Mary and only found an answering machine. Bruce wasn't home yet as well. Dick escorted her to her car assuring her that everything would be all right. She drove from the police station and headed straight to her daughter's hoping that she would find someone home.
Max, Chelsea, and Dana left the Pizza Palace with Matt in tow. He had hated leaving and could have played there for hours more if they had let him. They needed to get Matt home as Terry had work to do with Mr. Wayne in the evening. Chelsea was astounded by Max and Dana's revelation that Terry was actually Bruce's grandson and that Terry's grandmother was being chased by the mob. Now she understood why Bruce had been so bothered earlier in the day. They moved through an alley only to be stopped by several armed men. The men moved forward and tried to take Matt. Max and Chelsea moved forward and were knocked out by the men. Dana realized that there was nothing she could do. She turned with Matt to run, but it was too late. The men grabbed Matt and disappeared from view.
Mary entered her home having returned in record time. The apartment was empty; the only noise the ringing of the phone. She moved quickly to the phone. On the other end a man informed her that if she of Andrea wanted to see Matt alive, then Andrea had to meet them in exchange for her son. Mary fell to her knees hearing Matt yelling at the men somewhere in the room the man was calling her from. Then man gave her specific direction on where to meet them and warned her that they would kill Matt if the even smelled the police. She fought the tears knowing that her son's life depended on her ingraining all the information she could into her head. The phone disconnected as soon as the man finished. Mary let her tears flow as she dropped the phone to the ground.
Bruce pulled up to his home. The snow had already started to fall. He moved through the house and found it still empty. Andrea would be home soon he thought. He moved downstairs and began to go through the file that the computer had collected while he was gone. By the time he had organized the various hideouts and front businesses that Anthony had connections to in Gotham the afternoon had passed and evening was settling in. Bruce took note of the time and realized that something must be horribly wrong for Andrea not to be home.
Andrea moved to the front door of her daughter's home. The door was unlocked. She moved through the apartment to find Mary sitting on the floor in tears. Andrea held her daughter dreading what news her daughter would have for her when she could recover her voice. It took almost half an hour to calm Mary to the point where she could talk. Valestra had Matt and he would kill him if Andrea didn't give herself up. Mary could barely manage to make more than three words at a time. It took forever, but Andrea managed to get all the information from Mary. She hung up the phone and then told her daughter to call the police and inform Detective Grayson of what had happened. Andrea waited while her daughter made the call and until the police arrived. Once there, Andrea disappeared before anyone knew what had happened. Darkness had already enveloped the city and the snow had turned to sheets of ice.
Andrea moved drove quickly to the meeting. Her thoughts careened through the events of her life as the car slid through the streets. She had no choice now; all that mattered was Matt's life.