Chapter 11 - "Dante Herald"

The police sirens echoed down the streets as police officers shuffled about, speaking amongst one another as they went about their business. While they talked, Commissioner James Gordon stood speaking with two officers. As he talked, a female officer rushed up to him. "Sir, EMS is here."

Gordon nodded and dismissed the other officers he had been speaking to. "Where are they, Montoya?" he asked, and the officer, Renee Montoya, was quick to respond.

"At the front of the store, Commissioner." She sighed deeply, then asked, "Have you found any more clues?"

Gordon shook his head. "No. But someone who should be able to help us should be here soon." Gordon and Montoya exited the convenience store that had been the victim of a robbery, where they saw an ambulance with sirens flashing unload its crew. One EMT rushed to Gordon while the other went to the back of the vehicle, opening the doors with the help of a nearby officer

"What's up, Commissioner?" the EMT asked, resting his hands on his hips.

"Holdup," Gordon remarked. "Some guy came in and busted up the store, then made off with the money."

"The victims?"

"They're alive, just beat up. Neither one's come to yet. We only knew about it because a customer came in, saw the owner and another employee knocked out on the ground, and called us."

"So no one's seen the suspect?" Gordon shook his head. "You've got no leads, huh?"

A shadow crossed Gordon's face as he replied, "Not many, no."

The two EMTs hurried inside, carrying a stretcher. As they left, a mirage of colors appeared in Gordon's peripheral vision and he sighed. "There he is," he murmured, turning to look at the approaching vehicle.

To say it was a conglomeration of parts was an understatement. The '70s VW Bug that pulled into the parking lot was sure to get a lot of second glances. The driver and passenger side doors were red and blue respectively, the hood was green, and the trunk was pink. Everything else was white.

Gordon chuckled as he saw the car. He always did.

Once the vehicle parked, the commissioner made his way over to it. The red door popped open and out stepped a man who looked right out of the '80s. He had silk smooth brown hair, parted down the middle, covering his ears and neck, and a boxed beard that covered the lower portion of his face. Green eyes peeked from beneath the shaggy hair. His clothes were less extravagant than his car, wearing a regular T-shirt and jeans, rounded off by black sneakers. His wrists sported two black leather wristbands.

"Dante," Gordon greeted, extending a hand to Dante Herald, a man he called one of his closest friends. "How's the business going?"

Dante shrugged, a relaxed smile spreading across his face. "Fair. Mostly prank calls, but it gives me a bit of a break from the rough side of Gotham." He gave a fake yawn and said, "Old guys like me need a break now and again." Gordon chuckled at the man's attempt at a joke; while he was thirty-seven, Dante was still a good few years younger than the commissioner. But he took no offense to it. The two were both good friends, both in business and in life.

Once the laughs had finished, Dante asked, "How's Barbara?"

Gordon nodded. "She's doing fine. Well, as fine as a sixteen-year-old girl can in Gotham with her dad being the commissioner." A brief pause, then, "How about your folks?"

"They're doing pretty good. The floral shop's been having a lot more business." He let out a chuckle. "I don't know whether to believe it or not, but my mom said that the word is that they're getting a lot of business because other florists are having trouble with their plants, like they're become dangerous."

"Dangerous?" Gordon laughed as well.

Dante shrugged again. "That's what she said. Like they move and latch onto people and things. I dunno, it's just what I've heard. I'm not sure I believe it."

"If anyone should, it's you, in you're line of work and all."

Dante nodded. He couldn't argue there; once he graduated from Gotham University with masters' degrees in both chemistry and criminal justice, he set up shop as a private investigator. He became the target of a number of "raids"—mostly scares involving graffiti or busted windows—from local criminal sects, forcing Dante to pack up and move to another, better part of town, where he set up with the name "Professional Alchemist" rather than "Private Investigator." It cut down on the criminal response, but he still received mostly prank calls.

The alchemy part wasn't a joke, though. Dante's parents, Daniel and Julia, ran Reagent Flowers, a floral shop, but they were truly alchemists by trade. They used special wards to protect their shop, which may have had something to do with all the talk about plants seemingly taking a life of their own. Still, they were getting more business and weren't being harmed, so Dante looked at it as a plus.

His family was close to the magical community, and such were able to learn a great deal about magic and were well-versed in alchemy. Dante followed their guidance and likewise became experienced in the use of magic. He could cast spells, but his forte was potions and other concoctions. He used the magic he had mastered in conjunction with his skills in detection and deduction, operating as a Sherlock Holmes with magic.

Dante's skill package was what allowed him to become a close friend of Gordon's, and he was often sought out when supernaturally rooted mysteries presented themselves, which was becoming more and more common in Gotham City.

Which was what brought Dante to the robbery of a convenience store.

The alchemist turned and nodded to the building. "I take it this is the site of the robbery?"

Gordon nodded an affirmation. "Yep. But so far, our clues aren't leading us anywhere concrete. That's why we called you."

"What'd you find?"

"Follow me." Gordon led the way into the building, Dante trailing close behind. Montoya and another officer were helping the two EMTs load up the victims. One was able to stand now, better than they were earlier. "This one's back with us?" Gordon asked.

The EMT nodded. "Just barely. He can't talk; seems to be in some kind of shock. We'll let you know when he's able to speak." The EMTs then took the two subjects to the ambulance, loading them up and leaving the scene. As they left, Gordon gestured towards a back room in the store. Dante moved there, and Gordon closed up the ranks, Montoya right at his side.

Not wanting to seem rude, Gordon nodded to the doorway. "Stand guard there, Montoya. Don't let anyone in."

Taking the hint, Montoya nodded. "Sure thing, boss."

Gordon got down on one knee and pointed to a mound of brown goop. "Tell me what that is."

Dante examined it without getting too close and scrunched his face in puzzlement. "Before I sniff, I just want to know—it isn't a pile of crap, is it?"

"No. No crap."

Dante nodded and leaned closer. There was no distinct odor. Hesitating a moment, Dante jabbed a finger into it and lifted it out, mushing it around on his fingertips. Gordon chuckled. "You're more courageous than any of us. No one wanted to touch it."

Ignoring the quip, Dante said, "It's clay."

"What?"

"Clay," Dante said again, flipping the substance off his hand and brushing it free of any lingering particles. "Do you know if it has any effect on the actual crime itself?"

Gordon shook his head. "No. My guess was that it just came off of someone's shoe. But where would someone get this much clay on their shoe? It looks almost like a clump that just fell loose. Beats me."

Dante glanced to Gordon. "You think one of your guys could box this up for me?"

Gordon shrugged. "If you think it's important."

"Maybe."

Gordon turned and called out, "Montoya! Send Fletcher for a box and have him bring it back here."

Montoya hurried off to carry out Gordon's orders as Dante eyed the suspicious substance. After a few seconds, he asked, "Have you thought any more about my invitation?"

Dante perked up. "Oh, yes. I thought your whole initiative sounded interesting. But you know me, it's the supernatural bit that intrigues me the most. So what exactly is it again?"

Gordon glanced over his shoulder before speaking, albeit in a hushed tone. "Well, I haven't told any of the other invited members about it, but there's some . . . thing on the loose in Gotham."

"Thing? Like what?"

"That's just it," Gordon said, shaking his head. "We don't know. We haven't seen it yet. Just found the bodies of the victims."

"You mean it's killing people?"

Gordon paused. "No. Eating people."

Dante gagged. "Eck."

"I know. Whatever it was, it struck late last night. A beat cop stumbled across a guy who'd been torn apart. We haven't told the people we've invited about it because that would be the first way to not draw people in. We've mostly said it would involve taking down some mobsters. We'll unveil the monster part at the meeting."

"Sounds like fun," Dante said. "What time is this meeting again?"

"Tonight. Seven o'clock, at the GCPD HQ. You think you're interested?"

"I know I am. I'll be there."

Once the two finished, Montoya reappeared at the doorway, followed by a younger cop, who looked fresh on the beat. "Here's Fletcher, Commissioner. He's got the box you requested."

"Thanks, Montoya. You too, Fletcher," Gordon said, taking the box and passing it to Dante. Dante thanked him and bent down to scoop up the clay.

"He's taking that home?" Fletcher asked, eyeing the mound in disgust.

"Dante here is a bit of an eccentric. Wouldn't you say so, Dante?" Gordon asked, chuckling.

"You could say that," Dante retorted with a grin. He stood up, clamping the lid down on the box as he shook Jim's hand. "I'll see you tonight then, Jim. Seven, right?"

"Yep, seven. Just say you're here to see Gordon and they'll send you in."

"Got it. Take care, Jim." He nodded a farewell to the two other officers and ducked out of the convenience store.

"What an oddball," Fletcher muttered.

Montoya shrugged. "I don't know. He's kinda cute. Did you see his car?"

"Exactly," Fletcher said with a laugh. "Oddball."

Gordon shook his head. "He may be a bit eccentric, as I said, Fletcher, but he's anything but an oddball. I'd even say he's a better crimefighter than me." The commissioner strode out the door, soon followed by his two companions.

A/N: Hello everyone! We're nearing the end of the intros, only a few more left to get through. I think I'll try to binge them out while I've got the free time, so keep your eyes open, because there may be some more posts today! This chapter introduces Dante Herald, an alchemist with a friendship with Commissioner Gordon. Leave your thoughts on the character and the chapter in the reviews, and let me know how you all like the story so far! Again, thanks to all of you for your support and loyal following. I'm glad you're enjoying it! Until next time.