Chapter 3 is finally here! It has been a long time in coming, but I finally feel like I can finish this story. Sorry to have kept everyone waiting! Things just got so busy for me, and I wasn't sure what to do with my story—I ended up changing some things from the first draft I had written. Anyway, I hope that those of you who are reading the story are enjoying it. Please review and let me know what I can do to make this story better!!!
Disclaimer: I do not own Batman or any related characters.
Chapter 3: Lies and Dead Ends
Batman was sitting in front of the hulk of a computer that composed the main frame of the bat cave. He sat back, silently musing, a scowl on his face, when Tim dropped in.
"What's with you?" he made no reply.
"This is ridiculous, there must be something here, there's got to be."
"Got to be what?" Tim just stood there, staring at the screen after being ignored a second time, to try to figure out what he was talking about. Batman turned away from the screen in frustration. The only thing of remote interest was an obscure article talking about Superman helping shut down the illegal operation she had discovered and reported to the authorities.
"I guess there's only one way to get the information I want."
"I want to go with you."
"Not this time, Tim. These are some of the most dangerous people I have ever come across." So saying, he started his car and headed back towards the hospital.
Lorelei was still puzzling over what was going on when a dark figure emerged from the window.
"What is it?" He was somewhat stunned; since she had apparently known he was there the instant he had climbed in.
"I need you
to tell me everything you know about the Martellini Family. Do you have any other connection to them?"
"I told you everything I know, and no, I don't have any other connection to them that I'm aware of. Are you implying something?" There was a hint of annoyance in her voice.
"No…Sorry. What would they want with you, then?"
"I don't know. Maybe they want to make me sweat. They probably think that it will be easier to get me if they've got me scared and on the run before they strike."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Someone added something to my IV. I know because when I removed it, it felt a cloud lifting from my mind. You know something I don't, don't you?"
"I thought you might know something I didn't. Can you remember when you worked with Superman to help shut the Martellini's down?"
"Yes, why?"
"Do you remember throwing a man so hard that he put large cracks into a brick wall?"
"I remember throwing a guy into a wall, but I didn't exactly go and examine the wall."
"What do you remember?"
"Well, they had expected his arrival. They had taken me hostage with a couple of others who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. I took advantage of the confusion to give Superman a hand. They put up a good fight; I was defending against them when they brought one of the other hostages up, and threatened to shoot him if I didn't surrender. Superman was elsewhere, so I pretended to comply. Then one of the other goons grabbed me. Then, Superman worked his way into the room, melted their guns, and the next instant I had thrown my captor into the wall. Did you ever consider that it might have been Superman that had done that? Why don't you ask him?"
Batman stood there for a moment, silent. He knew that she was lying. But he wasn't sure what other explanation there could be. There was only one way to find out.
Batman walked towards the window. Turning around he said, "Watch your back." The next instant he disappeared, silent as a shadow.
The next morning as she was packing her things to leave, she noticed that the commissioner had not come to pick her up. Maybe he finally realized that it's better to let me deal with things on my own, she reasoned, which she felt was better for all of them. As she was gathering the last of her things, the door opened, and she instantly flipped around. To her great astonishment, it was Bruce Wayne.
"Hello." What are you doing here? She did not pose the question aloud.
"I wanted to thank you again for taking care of Tim for me, I know he really doesn't enjoy those society parties." He smiled pleasantly. "Would you like to go out for lunch?"
"Uh…sure."
"Great! The commissioner thought it was a great idea, so he figured he'd come get you later."
I guess that means he isn't taking my advice after all. Damn!
"Did I say something wrong?" He asked, noticing a cloud come over her expression.
"Oh, no! No, I was just thinking about something…"
"Well, then, shall we?"
"What am I supposed to do with my things?"
"I can just stick that in the trunk of my car."
"Ok." With that, he led her out the door.
Lorelei stared in amazement at the restaurant's surroundings. At least he knows what I like. But why, then, did she feel so uncomfortable? Aloud, she said, "How did you know that I liked sushi?"
"The commissioner mentioned to me your interest in Japanese matters that night we met. He was about to introduce you to me, but then…I just have a knack for guessing at what lovely ladies like."
"That's so sweet." Why am I blushing? I am not going to turn into some drooling hollow-eyed idiot! "What do you like to do in your spare time, Mr. Wayne?"
Bruce took note of the deepening color of her cheeks. "Well, I do have a nightlife…" they were interrupted when the waiter came and took their orders. After the waiter left, Bruce started to say something, but noticed that she was not paying any attention. The expression on her face had changed to one that seemed so melancholy; it was as if a part of her was somewhere else.
"So, do you have any hobbies?"
Lorelei snapped back into reality. "Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't even realize I had spaced out; I study karate in my spare time." Bruce had only really asked the question to make conversation, he had known from the first time he laid eyes on her that she had background in karate, her fighting style said it all. They talked about various things, ranging from martial arts to traditional Japanese etiquette to history. Bruce found her intriguing, a wonderful change of pace from some of the other women he had been known to associate with. She was definitely feminine, but sort of gave off a sense of being used to being independent, someone who did not need to depend on someone else for her livelihood. Lorelei also seemed to find him equally intriguing; it was not often that she met a man that she could talk to about martial arts that would truly understand what she was talking about. Before either of them realized it, they had been in the restaurant for over an hour.
"My, how time flies! I have a meeting at the office, but I would really like to talk to you some more. When are you available?"
"I am available pretty much anytime, I haven't really been able to look into getting a job or anything; I have to keep a low profile."
"How about dinner at my place tomorrow night?"
"Sounds good. What time?"
"I'll have Alfred come and get you around 7:30. Where are you headed?"
"Commissioner Gordon should be coming to get me soon."
"Then I'll wait with you until he gets here."
"Are you sure? I don't want to make you late for your meeting."
"Don't worry about it. I would hate to leave and find out that something terrible happened to you while you were waiting."
She smiled. "All right then. I wouldn't want you to feel guilty."
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That evening Batman sat pondering in the batcave, but could come up with no rational explanation for what had really happened with the Martellini's. The more he thought about it, the more perplexed he became. Alfred was busily dusting the cave, but did notice the troubled expression on Batman's face. "Contemplating a new mind game, sir?"
"I can't make sense of this Alfred. I've approached from many different angles, but they all lead to the same dead end. It looks like if I want any answers, Superman is the only person who has them."
"Perhaps you should think back to where it all started-"
"Alfred! You're brilliant!" With that, he dashed over to the batmobile. "Don't wait up." Having said that, he sped away in the batmobile.
He quietly approached the alley next to the club. Nothing seemed different, except the wall of the neighboring building had large cracks that originated from a central point, like someone had crashed into the wall. Upon closer examination, he discovered that they were fresh. They couldn't be more than a few days old. He tried to remember what had happened, and vaguely remembered that one of the thugs had been suddenly pushed into the wall, and then the rest had fled when the sirens started to sound. Could she be another Kryptonian? He mused to himself. But he then realized that that was impossible, because no ordinary bullet would have been able to pierce her skin. He was once more back to square one. The only explanation he could come up with was that she had some sort of special mental capabilities, but that was not a good enough answer for him. He wanted something that made sense. There had to be something he had overlooked…there was only one thing to do. Off he sped in his car for Metropolis.
The next night, Bruce awaited Lorelei's arrival by pacing back and forth across the floor in impatience. Alfred was taking an awfully long time to get there. His fears were allayed when he heard the car pull up. Bruce strolled over to a painting on the wall and pretended to study it in earnest, not turning around until he heard the door open. His breath was taken away as she walked in. She was wearing a full-length oriental style gown made of deep blue silk brocade with a mandarin collar. He walked towards her and invited her to come and sit with him next to a fireplace in the next room. Alfred smiled as he watched their animated discussion in the next room. Alfred could tell that the young lady was keeping Master Bruce's interest.
It had been a long time since Bruce had discussed the deeper aspects of martial arts, and he found it very refreshing. He did not even realize how much time had gone by in what seemed to be a half hour or so until Alfred brought in their dinner. Soon after Alfred left the room, the doorbell rang. "Is that someone important? Should I leave?" Lorelei asked.
"No, no, don't worry about it, I'm sure it's nothing."
No sooner had Alfred opened the door than unwanted visitors knocked him unconscious. Unfortunately, the manor was so large that no one else heard them enter the house.
Lorelei and Bruce had moved to a couch next to the fireplace after finishing their meal. "I really enjoyed having dinner with you tonight," Bruce said as he gazed into her eyes. In her eyes he noticed a look of worry, almost of fright. "Am I making you feel uncomfortable?"
Lorelei abruptly woke up from her reverie. "Oh, Bruce, it's not you. I had a wonderful time with you tonight too. I just have this feeling…"
"Please, don't worry, you're safe here, I won't let anyone hurt you." He slowly reached a hand out to gently stroke her face as he leaned forward to kiss her. As they slowly pulled away from each other, a gas bomb exploded right in their midst. In a matter of seconds they had both fallen unconscious upon the floor. The henchmen quickly scooped Lorelei up and fled.
Meanwhile, Batgirl and Robin had responded to a distress signal that Bruce had set off only seconds before he had succumbed to the gas. Unfortunately, by the time they found Bruce it was too late. Batgirl ran over to see if Bruce was all right while Robin ran after the henchmen. Ascertaining that Bruce was unconscious and unharmed, she moved him onto the couch, and then started to search for Alfred. When she found him she came across Robin helping Alfred onto his feet.
"Alfred, are you all right? What happened?" Batgirl asked as both she and Robin helped Alfred over to a chair.
"I really don't remember anything beyond answering the door and being hit on the head miss, I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it, Alfred, we'll know when Bruce comes to."
"Where is Miss Spencer?" Alfred asked.
"She was here?" Batgirl asked in surprise.
"Yes, she and Master Bruce were having dinner when those men arrived."
"Robin, fan out. We need to search the house"
"Right." With that, Batgirl and Robin began their search.
By the time Batgirl and Robin finished searched the house Bruce had regained consciousness. He saw Alfred sitting nearby.
"Where's Lorelei?"
"Master Bruce, I don't know. When I went to answer the door, I was hit over the head. Batgirl and Robin are searching the house right as we speak."
"It's all right Alfred. Are you all right?"
"Yes, I'm sure that I will be all right, sir. Are you all right?"
"I'm fine." Just then, Batgirl and Robin entered the room.
"She's not here." Batgirl said.
"I know. Did you see anyone leave the mansion?"
"They were already out of range for the tracker when we got here. Whoever they are, they're good."
Bruce frowned as Batgirl told him what she knew. Then he walked over to the clock, flipped a hidden switch, and walked into the batcave without another word.