No Way Forward
The seedy bar on 4th and Main was not the usual haunt of either man. But prudence and a need to meet unobserved meant the smelly, rat infested hole; the hang out of petty criminals, down and outs and drunks suited them both. Jim Gordon wore an old mac over his rumpled suit; to any casual observer he was just another low life trying to find the answer to his problems in the bottom of a Whiskey glass. The man opposite dressed in old stained jeans and a ripped sweater was a million miles away from the elegant figure he usually portrayed as the head of household at Wayne Manor.
"You'll have heard they've arrested a man, Mark Tyler, he's an addict who supports his needs by committing small time jewel thefts." Gordon reported. "He was found with the diamond necklace from Dr Wayne's safe in his possession."
"Has Tyler admitted killing Dr Wayne?" Alfred asked.
Gordon shook his head "Claims he was supplied with a fix and told to look after a parcel by his supplier as payment."
"How did you find him so fast?"
"Reynolds arrested him, acting on a tip off."
Alfred looked at Gordon hard "He didn't do it. You know that don't you?" Alfred said
Gordon sighed and nodded.
"So far I've come up with two names," Alfred said, "Paul Zacarius and Donald Laraby. Both men hold position on the board that would enable them to arrange for drugs to be smuggled."
"But you have no concrete proof against either man?"
Alfred shook his head. "I've dug as deep as I can and I cannot find any proof of drug smuggling, but there is something. I found that several document have been removed from the files. I'm not sure if Dr Wayne took them or if they were removed after Dr Wayne was killed."
"Does anyone suspect you are investigating Dr Wayne's death?" Gordon asked eyeing the man opposite with concern. "Every time I try to reopen the investigating all hell breaks loose and Reynolds finds me enough paper work to keep me off the streets for a month."
"I'm not sure," Alfred replied "I have had a feeling that I'm being watched for the last few days. But nothing more than a feeling. I'm more worried about Master Bruce, he has been asking some awkward questions."
"Is Professor Wayne aware that you doubt the official version of his father's death?"
Alfred considered carefully "Yes, I think he's aware that I don't share Commissioner Reynolds's view that the right man has been arrested. But not why. I have found something that may help us, some papers relating to a ship due in to Gotham next week." Alfred slipped his hand in his pocket.
Suddenly the window behind Alfred shattered, Gordon saw the man sat in front of him go rigid, a look of shock on his face. A large red stain started to spread on the front of his jersey. Then Alfred fell from his seat. Gordon drew his gun and took cover behind a table as more shots peppered the bar. Carefully he edged towards the window; a large black car was speeding away down the street.
Other customers ran screaming from the room. In the confusion Gordon lost sight of Alfred. When he reached him the papers Alfred had withdrawn from his pocket had gone.