When I came downstairs I found Barbara asleep at her computer terminal.
It was almost 8:30 and there was no doubt in my mind that she'd been working throughout the night. The number of mugs of coffee sitting next to her on the table confirmed it.
My mere presence woke her with a start.
"Wh...what time is it?" she asked, groggily and confused.
"8:30. You still have a half hour, don't worry."
I walked towards the kitchen in search of breakfast and didn't expect to hear her following me.
"I don't know where she's hiding out but I do know a few details of what she's after next."
I stopped and turned around, very much interested. "Do tell."
"There's some chatter about old paintings that are worth millions as well as old statues and vases."
"The museum?"
"That's what I'm going with. I'm going to monitor the talk that's been going around to see if I can pinpoint a date. In the meantime, take a trip over to the museum today and keep an eye out for anyone that might be casing the joint." Barbara looked at her watch. "Ha. Twenty minutes to spare."
I flashed a slight smile. "Cute."
Barbara smiled back.
"I'm...I'm sorry about Derek. We'll find her and take her down."
Barbara nodded and went back to work. It was clear to me that she didn't want to talk about it and I wasn't going to force her.
***
I took Dinah with me to the museum. I figured it was easy enough and she wouldn't get in the way.
We walked around the museum and kept an eye on people coming and going, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Just your average relic-loving geeks who get all hot and bothered from things of the past. Pretty boring if you ask me.
I walked into the weaponry room and suddenly things didn't seem so bad.
"Now THAT'S a work of art," a young man said to me as he walked over towards me. "They don't make pieces like that anymore."
The object of his desire was an ax with knifes on it's edge.
"It is pretty interesting looking," I responded as I turned to look at him. If I had to guess I'd say he was in his early thirties. He was clean-shaven, dressed in a black shirt, black jeans, black boots, and a log black coat. His hair was long but was pulled back in a ponytail and slicked back with gel. I probably would have been turned on if attire were the only factor, but he wasn't very attractive. He had a weird way about him.
"This piece alone is worth at least two villas in the Swiss Alps AND a Lamborghini Murcielago. I'd kill to have this in my collection."
Were these the magic words I'd been waiting to hear? He did seem overly interested in the weapon.
"Yeah. I guess it would look great...hanging on a wall in a living room or something."
He didn't appear to find my comment funny because he wasn't laughing.
"My dear, everything in this room is a piece of history. Although people have set a price tag on them, I feel like they're priceless."
Okay. This guy was giving me the creeps.
I was just about to ask him how much he'd be willing to pay for such an item, but when I turned around he was gone. Was it something I said?
"Hey. You find anything?" Dinah asked as she approached.
I leaned in close to her, so that others around us wouldn't hear me. "I just had a conversation with some guy that said he'd kill to have that ax up there."
"You think he's part of Bombshell's gang?"
"I dunno. Could be. Might not be. I don't think we have enough to go on."
"You get his name?"
"No."
"Oh, good job. Where'd he go?"
I looked around the room and didn't see him anywhere. "I don't know."
"Even better."
"Shut up, kid. I didn't even have to bring you with me, ya know." I stormed out of the room and headed for the exit. I didn't care whether Dinah was in tow or not at this point.
***
For the next few days and nights we made trips to the museum, but our surveillance was done from the adjacent rooftop.
Long about 10:00pm, I noticed the man from the other day enter the museum with two others by his side.
"Oracle, we may have something."
:: What've you got? ::
"The guy from the other day. He just entered the museum with two other guys. The museum closes in a half hour. You think that's suspicious enough to check out?"
:: Hang tight for another ten minutes. ::
Those ten minutes felt like hours and I was beginning to get antsy.
"I dunno, this seems weird," Dinah said, breaking the silence.
"Oracle, we're gonna go check it out." I tapped Dinah's arm and we both headed down to the museum.
:: Keep your lines open. ::
We entered the museum and found only a handful of people lingering around.
Going right for the weapon room, I immediately found the man and his friends ogling at the weapons hung on the walls.
They were the only ones in the room. How convenient.
We were just about to go into the room when Barbara's panicked voice blasted through our comms.
:: Huntress! Get over to Wayne Manor now! ::
Her words blew through my mind like a hurricane. "Wh...what?"
:: Alfred just set off an emergency signal. I'll meet you over there. Go! Hurry!! ::
~ to be continued ~