Impasse: Exacerbation
"Lorenzo Moretti?"
The man their contact had found was weedy and seedy - in almost the worst way possible. He glared up at the two police officers, obviously disgruntled.
"What's it tah ye?"
"Sir, I have a warrant…"
Began Kate as Babs grimaced and stepped in, "Sarge, maybe let's see if Mr Moretti would be willing to have a chat with us? We needn't bring up the warrant."
Kate rolled her eyes and affixed her most gracious smile upon her face, "My apologies Mr Moretti, I'm just a little anxious - surely you've heard about the recent serial killings that have been going on. You know the ones with the oddly Roman theme?"
"Ma'am I do read tah Gazzette ye know." His eyes shifted between the two women, trying to work things out. "But what dat gotta do with meh? I went on the narrow years agoh."
"Mr Moretti," Babs sighed, relieved that Kate's initial barb hadn't completely caused a deterioration in the communication, "We're actually here because a contact of ours has recently brought to light that Mr Carmine Falcone is still alive and that his death certificate was forged."
"Still don't see what dis has tah do with me."
"You weren't too surprised by our assumption that Carmine is alive, Mr Moretti."
The shifty man jerked forward like he had just realised the misstep he had made. "Dammit."
"Look Mr Moretti, we just want to have a chat with Mr Falcone. We recently received evidence that points to him being alive, and that he's also the killer at large."
Lorenzo sat down, hard. "I cannae believe ol' Falkey is a killer. He came tah me a coupah of months back. Looked funny yeh see. Says he was going into hidin' because people had tried killin' him. Normally this is nah issue but this time dey got close. So I says he could lay low in one of my spare warehouses…"
-.-.-.-
Dick groaned as he stared at the sword he had lifted from Falcone after their scuffle.
"You alright there, chum?"
"Yeah Bruce, just nursing this headache. I have this thing," He let his hand flail in the general direction of the sword, "And not one clue how to use it to gather any more evidence. Heck. I don't even know if I can dust it for fingerprints."
"You worried you contaminated the sword?"
"Kinda, I did have gloves on but I don't know if the debris and such smudged the prints."
Bruce stood, "Well! Only one way to find out." He stopped, "Um, based on what I just heard I'm guessing you know how to look for those prints."
"Yeah. Overheard the Owls in charge of the Labyrinth about it once, something about their thenoyl europium chelate running out in relation to how messy a scene I left behind." Dick shuddered.
"So… I'm guessing I'm going shopping? Just give me a list of equipment you think you may need."
Dick nodded.
"Okay." Bruce groaned, rubbing at the base of his neck, "I'm hoping a chemistry lab set-up wouldn't be too much trouble to put together."
"You don't need-"
"Hey, you're my kid now. You have a hobby and I think I can help support you in it, other than patching you up." Bruce grinned at his adopted son. "Um, I'll do some research where the labs get their supply from and join Alfred when he heads out then. I think I saw someone try to follow me?"
Dick froze and stared at Bruce. "Bruce, do you think you're being stalked?"
"Yeah, but don't worry, Alfred briefed us all on what to do."
Dick looked down at the table, worried. He did trust Alfred, he did. And his new father and grandparents seemed sensible enough - maybe it was time to have a little faith.
-.-.-.-
"Poor Moretti." Babs said as she climbed into the passenger seat.
"Hmm?"
"I mean, he's still in shock. But then again, it is out of character for the Carmine Falcone we knew."
Kate huffed a laugh. "Yeah, running about with nets, tridents and swords and crosses to crucify people on... Carving SPQR onto their flesh... Not exactly the shady 'gentleman' mob boss he was before."
"Still. Moretti seems in the clear himself."
"Yeah, didn't anticipate that."
"What now?" Babs asked her senior officer plaintively, staring down at her hands while Kate threw their cruiser smoothly into ignition.
"We have our information - let's get Renee back into the loop and figure out a plan - hopefully our Guardian Angel unearths something else for us."
"Yeah," Babs barked a laugh, "That would be useful."
-.-.-.-
Thomas Wayne shrugged before he rolled his eyes. "Paranoid. That's what I'm becoming."
Not that he was ignoring the advice that Alfred had given him but - was it truly that necessary? Thomas felt like he was aware of the dangers but still. He had patients to look after. He was one of the senior consultant leads! He couldn't just up and leave.
knew what he was doing. And his routine couldn't be that easy to predict.
-.-.-.-
When you were a member of the Owls of the Labyrinth, sometimes you wondered if you had drawn the worst lot in the Parliament. The Labyrinth was old in the same way Gotham was old. It was gritty. It was a place for the experimental, for the people who wanted to know things.
Unlike the other Chapters, it revelled in the grandeur of the grotesque. But let it not be said that it didn't have luxuriant taste either. It did. And nowhere was this severe blend of intimidating elegance with an undercurrent of profane more apparent than the office of the Labyrinth's Chapter Head.
Phoebe Uil's manicured nails drummed briskly on the lacquered surface of her Japanese maple wood desk. There was something in her eyes that inspired dread.
She listened to the Talon as he relayed all the information he gathered while observing those wretched Waynes and their whoever and whatever that British man was to them.
She sighed. "I was hoping that the butler would have been the ideal candidate to introduce to our little maze. More low profile. Less likely to create a stir… Never mind. Your target is Thomas Wayne. Leave a trail for our Gray Son to follow - we do want him to come home."
AN: Thanks once again for reading! If you'd like to contact us via tumblr, my handle is eastoniablogs! Reviews appreciated!
Cheers,
East
