Chapter Three: Guilty as Charged?

Robin looked up from his studies as Starfire and Raven walked into the living room. "Hey, you're back. Did you guys find anything?"

"Our mission was quite successful," Starfire replied.

"We were able to get a hold of the papers published during Eddie Hurst's trial," Raven said, handing him a stack of old newspapers. "It's quite a lot, but it should be enough." Robin looked at the headline:

Molly Snow Prosecuting Attorney Victorious in Hurst Case, Judge Leroy Williams contemplates Death Penalty.

"It seems they got what they wanted…" Robin began scanning the article. "It's the same thing I've read in every article that concerns Eddie Hurst: the bloody fingerprint on his wife's shirt is what nailed him down as the perpetrator. But…it doesn't make sense."

"Why wouldn't it?" Cyborg asked from his place at one of the computer terminals. He was feverishly working to complete his virtual reality program so Robin could use it to investigate the Hurst murder case. He was almost finished, but the program wasn't ready.

"I don't see anything about witnesses," Robin replied. "A crime like this can't go unnoticed. He murdered the two women in broad daylight, according to the prosecution."

"What makes you think the witnesses are too afraid to come forward?" Cyborg asked.

"The Gotham Police Department posted a reward at a ridiculous amount for anyone with information leading to the murderer's capture. On top of that, they offered the person who would give them this information police protection. That'd be a good reason for a witness to step forward: reward money and protection, just for the name of the killer."

"I think I found something about a witness to the murder," Raven pulled up the Gotham Insider, "'Kelly Witnesses Murder of Hurst's Wife in Street.'"

"Wait a minute, what was that lady's name?" Robin asked.

"Kira Kelly," Raven replied.

"I'm gonna write that down," Robin said, scribbling the name down on a piece of paper.

"Why?"

"Because when Eddie escaped from Blackgate he went after all the people who had put him behind bars, he murdered Judge Leroy Williams and the officers who were on their way to protect him, and if that's true about Eddie Hurst wanting to murder anyone who had to do with putting him away, Kira Kelly would be at the top of his list, and I think she's the only one Hurst didn't kill in his murder spree."

"I wonder how she survived," Beast Boy said. "That Hurst guy got everybody else didn't he?"

"The Batman came in time to stop Hurst," Cyborg spoke up. "I remember it from that website."

"How's that virtual reality program coming?" Robin asked.

"I'm almost finished. Just give me a couple days," Cyborg said. "It'll take awhile to upload all those photographs and turn them into three dimensional images. That's the part that will take the longest because of all the programming."

"I see. Well, I have to go check on something," Robin said, "It's time to get that shirt out of the freezer."

"What?" Starfire asked. "I do not understand. You put a shirt in the freezer?"

"And you did that because…?" Raven asked.

"I'll explain in a minute," Robin said, he walked into the kitchen and carefully removed the evidence from the freezer. He came back with the evidence.

"Okay dude, why did you stick that in the freezer for a half hour?" Beast Boy asked.

The reason I did that is because I needed to wait until the Cyanoacrylate cooled."

Beast Boy looked at him. "The what?" he asked.

"B.B., it's the stuff that's used in superglue," Cyborg explained.

"You put superglue on a shirt, what's that supposed to do?"

"Well, it's supposed to show me if there are any fingerprints still on it."

"Will that prove anything?" Raven asked.

"It might, might not. I just want to match the prints with Hurst's D.N.A. This whole case doesn't feel right."

"What do you mean?" Starfire asked.

"The evidence conflicts with the prosecution's testimony; at least, that's what I've found already."

"Like how?" Beast Boy asked.

"The evidence doesn't fit the crime," Robin said.

"Do you think he was set up?" Raven asked.

"I can't say for sure. The sooner Cyborg gets that virtual reality program done, the sooner I can re-enact the crime to see what might have happened."

"Well Robin, the programming is finished. Now all I have to do is upload those photos and create the program that we'll need to do the investigation."

"That's great. Will it take long?"

"Two days, at least," Cyborg said. "But once it's done all you have to do is put on the headsets and you're ready to go."

"Here's the evidence. He handed Cyborg the shirt, the shoeprint and the photographs. "Can you run a scan on the fingerprint in the Gotham Criminal Database; I want to see if it matches Eddie Hurst's. I have to go make a phone call."

Robin began thumbing through the pages of a Gotham phone book. He finally found the phone number of theAssistant District Attorney Elliot Foster. He dialed it and waited for the phone to pick up on the other line.

A receptionist answered the phone. "May I speak to Mr. Foster? This is Robin and I need to ask him some questions." He waited a few minutes on the line. A few minutes later, Eliot Forester's voice came on the line.

"Can I help you with something, Robin? I'm very busy."

"Did you authorize Eddie Hurst's transfer to Jump City?" Robin asked; such things did concern the D.A. because she had just reopened his case. There was a pause.

"Yes, at the request of Judge Wigzell."

"Why would Judge Wigzell ask for Eddie Hurst to be transferred?"

"He didn't say, he just said it was very important that I do so."

"Thank you Mr. Forester, that's what I wanted to know."

"Why so interested?" Forester asked.

"I'm investigating Eddie Hurst's trial."

"The D.A. told me you were meddling in police business. I can't say anything more, she'll have my head."

"Why is everyone against me when it comes to this case?" Robin's voice was filled with frustration.

"Listen kid, you're a minor. Now protecting Gotham City from thieves and extortionists is one thing, murder isn't your area. Leave this to the Batman. You belong in Jump City with your little Titans. You should keep your nose out of serious business like murder!"

"Mr. Forester," Robin said, gathering the last shreds of patience he could muster. "I'm trying to protect my own city. And to do that, I need all the information on Eddie Hurst I can get."

"I'm sorry kid, I can't help you; this isn't my problem. If it was, then maybe I would. Good day, Robin." The phone went dead. Robin pushed the off button and slammed it back on the receiver.

He stomped back into the living room. "Robin, what is wrong?" Starfire asked.

"My conversation with the Mr. Eliot Forester did not go over well."

"He didn't want to help us huh?" Beast Boy asked.

"That's basically it."

"So what's next?" Cyborg asked. "The program to create a virtual reality replica of Gotham is finished. It's just the specific place that Robin needs to investigate is not in the program."

"Did you run the fingerprints through the Gotham Criminal Database yet?"

"I'm running it right now, it's just that there are so many names that it's gonna take a long time to find a match," Cyborg said. "Don't you think you're taking this a little too seriously?"

"I do my best to protect this city. Of course I'm taking this very seriously! It's not every day we have one of Gotham's convicts transferred to our prison. He's still a threat to the city, and I intend to make sure he stays behind bars!"

"Calm down Robin, there's no need to shout," Raven said calmly.

"You guys don't understand, before I came here, I lived in Gotham City. It's much, much worse there than anything we've ever faced here except Slade. I'm not taking this lightly."

"We did not say that you are," Starfire said. "But we do not wish to see you act like you do when you become obsessed with Slade."

"I'm not becoming obsessed with Eddie Hurst, I just want to make sure the city's safe."

There was a knock at the door. Cyborg pushed a button on the keyboard and a man's face appeared onscreen. "Hello is Robin there?" he asked in a low voice. He was a blonde haired, medium sized man in his early to middle thirties and wore dark sunglasses.

"Robin do you know this guy?"

"Cash Tankinson?" Robin stood up. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here on police business, may I come in?"

"I wouldn't want you to waste your time, officer. I'm sure you have things to do. Why didn't I see you here with Jim Gordon?"

I had business to attend to."

"I see."

"What's this I hear about Eddie Hurst being transferred to Jump City?"

"You've probably read all about in the papers, Mr. Tankinson. He arrived here today."

"And what are you going to do about him?" Cash asked.

"I'm not sure right now. So what'd you come here for?" Robin asked.

"I came to give you a message," Cash said.

"Message? What kind of message?" Robin said, his eyes narrowing.

"There are some people in Gotham who don't want little boys interfering with matters that do not concern them."

"I am not a little boy!" Robin shouted.

"I'm sure you aren't but you're clever enough. I would stay far, far away from the Hurst case, Robin. You're in over your head this time."

"You hardly know what I'm capable of."

"Perhaps, but curiosity killed the cat. If you'll excuse me, I must be getting back to Gotham."

"Good day to you, Officer Cash." The screen went blank.

"I wonder what that was all about." Robin looked up at his friends. They seemed puzzled by the whole thing themselves.

"So do you see that guy often?"

"No not really," Robin said. "It's getting late; I'd better be getting to bed just in case the alarms go off." The rest of the Titans nodded. A full night's sleep was rare and elusive when it came to crime fighting, and going to bed early did help somewhat. They all prepared to get a little sleep in case of an emergency.

Robin shut the door to his room. His eyes fell on a picture of Kira Kelly. He noticed the look on her face was of smug satisfaction.

The Insiders' headline glared at him. "'Kira Kelly Witnesses Murder of Hurst's Wife in Street.'" he didn't know why, but the picture of Kelly sent a shiver down his spine. He shut off the light and lay down.

He wondered for what would not be the first time if he could handle this case and prove to himself and the Gotham Police that he was as great a detective as the Dark Knight. Doubt was gnawing at his mind. Cash's warning still rang in his ears. He pondered what it meant and why the Gotham P.D. wanted him to stay out of the investigation.

His thoughts brought him back to the same dead end, and he closed his eyes. The puzzle wasn't fitting together, and it all had the makings of a cover-up. But Robin had no idea if it even was a cover-up; and if it was, he didn't know what anyone would have to hide. He let himself sleep, trying to put these thoughts out of his mind for the rest of the evening.

Gotham Police Officer Cash Tankinson walked briskly away from Titans Tower and out to a waiting ferry. The Ferrier carried him across the waters to Jump City. The policeman paid him and disembarked.

He continued making his way deep into the heart of the city. Finding a taxi service he gave them a certain address and the cab took him there. Climbing out he paid the man. It was near the Jump City airport. Instead, he ducked into a dark alley, glancing only with his eyes he made sure he wasn't followed.

Cash sprinted quickly through the streets, weaving his way towards an abandoned warehouse. He remained an elusive shadow, unnoticed by anyone. He arrived at the building and pushed a button, opening the door, he walked inside. Standing in the darkness, he remained silent, waiting. The lights suddenly flashed on, revealing the rest of Officer Cash Tankinson's features.

He was a tall man with a strong build. His muscles were tense, ready to act. He was a man who was determined and strong willed. He stared up at a monitor on the wall. He watched as the guards of Jump City's Maximum Security Prison walked passed Hurst's cell.

He scanned the other monitors which showed the outside of the prison, the courtyard and the stone walls that kept the criminals incarcerated. Everything was going according to plan, Hurst was here and locked away, and he was expecting a very large check in the mail.

Cash removed a remote from his belt and pushed a button, turning the lights off again. Smiling broadly and removed his sunglasses. His stern face was hard and cold, like that of a man who had been in the army, maybe a Lieutenant. A small smile crept across his face and his lone eye gleamed white in the darkness. Slade Wilson chuckled to himself.

"Robin, you have no idea what you're getting yourself into. You've gone in over your head and by the time you learn the truth, it will be far too late to stop it."

Eddie Hurst sat alone in his jail cell, staring out at the moonlight. He could only think of the life he had before the murders, before the pain and suffering. He could remember his wife's smile, her laugh, her voice. All the wonderful memories he cherished with her was all that was left of the life he had lived.

"I've got troubles, Lord, but not today," he began to sing softly. "They're gonna wash away, they're gonna wash away." He remembered the song on the radio. He'd heard it a lot when he came to work at the Cobra every morning.

"I've got sins, Lord, but not today," he continued. "They're gonna wash away, they're gonna wash away." He stopped for a moment, waiting for an angry inmate to swear at him and tell him to be quiet through the walls. There was only silence.

"And I have friends, Lord, but not today, 'Cause they done washed away. They done washed away."

"Lord, I've been crying alone. I've been crying alone. No, no more crying alone, no, no more crying here." His low base voice sang in a quiet, sad tune."We get lonely, Lord, but not today. Cause we're gonna wash away, we're gonna wash away." He got up and he knew it would be lights out soon. He pulled the covers open on his bed and went over to the small sink to brush his teeth and wash his face.He finished the song quietly. "I got troubles, Lord, but not today. Cause they're gonna wash away. This old river's gonna take them away…"