Author's notes: Hiya. Well I'm now down with law school and am back from the month summer study in Prague. It was an amazing trip and a great experience and now I'm back here unemployed which means this story will quickly be posted.
Hope everyone is doing well and enjoys the next post.
The Scum
February:
I'm drowning, Tim thought while he looked at the piles of papers that were still scattered before him. Over six hours ago, Bruce had lead Tim into the Manor's library where were piled in neat little stacks that stood nearly as tall as the teenager. There had only been enough space for Tim to make it to the lone table in the room.
"You will have the hard-copies for today only. They will be burned at midnight."
The teenager looked at his mentor. "What am I suppose to do with them?"
Bruce gave the young man a smile that froze Tim in his tracks. "Remember what you did with the maps?"
"I memorized…" Tim didn't bother completing the rest of his sentence.
"These are my files that cover the gangs, drug runners and other repeat offenders of Gotham. I expect you to have them down by the time I am back."
Against his better judgment, Tim spoke, "What about the other files? The Joker, Two-Face, other Arkham inmates…"
Bruce cocked an eyebrow, "Do you want me to get those as well?" The teenager looked at the stacks and negatively (and enthusiastically) shook his head.
"I think these will do."
Bruce left without a word and Tim got to work.
At exactly midnight, the young man heard the library door open. He lifted his head from the file he had been looking over and caught Alfred's eye.
"Master Bruce would like you to meet him in the Cave."
Tim placed his hands on the table rising and made his way to the Cave mentally going over all the facts he had just tried to cram in his brain for the last day.
"Head of the Crows."
Tim jumped at the voice in the darkness. "Mic Paralos. Age 23. Last known address was 1500 Warren Ave with his girlfriend, Andrea Engle. Came into leadership when…"
Bruce interrupted Tim's speech. "5th and North."
The teenager's brain began to race as he searched for those key words. "Drop-off for Chris Garen," Tim finally began. "Garen has been a known heroine seller for the last three years."
"Bruce Stinth."
"Head of the Jackals since 1990."
"The old Crusty Creams warehouse."
"Site of the last break-in by Squirrelly Joe a.k.a. Joe McAndrews."
For the next three hours, the question and answering continued in like-manner. Tim took every question with a calmness that he didn't know he possessed. For everything Bruce threw at him, the teenager had an answer. At the end of it all, Tim felt his brain swarming, but smile softy when Bruce, with no preamble, told him that he did good and that next month he'd get the Arkham files.
As Tim made his way out of the Manor, Alfred's voice stopped his exit.
"It took Masters Dick and Jason three weeks to be able to answer even half of those questions. I believe I am beginning to better understand why Master Bruce chose you and what he sees in you."
The young man swallowed the lump in his throat. "Thank you Alfred that… that means a lot."