Teen Titans
All These Lives
Chapter 3
A/N: Thanks to all who have reviewed this story so far and a big thanks to my beta, ComixFan1224 for helping me when applicable. I'm not exactly the smartest person when it comes to forensic science and stuff like that, so most of that stuff is her doing.
I am also tossing around the idea of writing a separate story about Dick and Harvey swapping the cases that were mentioned in the last chapter. If you'd like to see that, say something in your review. If I get at least 3 to 4 reviews saying yes, I'll post it.
Anyhow, onto the story! Have a good read!
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Dick took a long swig from his coffee mug. They had gone live with footage of all the 'evidence' on Slade getting destroyed almost two months ago. He apparently bought it, because he called through a blocked line to congratulate Commissioner Gordon on doing the right thing. It had been a total of 6 months that Barbara Gordon had been missing and now, by unspoken rules, she was to be presumed dead until otherwise proven.
Harvey came into Dick's office and said, "You okay? You've been sitting here for a few hours. Your answering machine is getting filled up with voice mail and your coffee pot is ready to break if someone pokes it because it's so hot." Harvey leaned against the doorframe before jerking his thumb over his shoulder. "The boss wants to see ya in his office."
Dick sighed and put his mug down before leaving the office without a word. He knocked once on the Commissioner's door before walking in and sitting down. "You wanted to see me about something?"
Jim was facing the window, the back of his tall leather chair facing Dick. "Your performance has been dropping as of late. Normally, you've got three to four cases solved by now and you've only got one finished." He turned around to stare at the young detective. "You got something on your mind?"
"Babs was supposed to be back by now. You know Slade just played us and you're not doing anything about it," Dick stated matter-of-factly. "I've been scheming of a way to track down where he was going. I went back to the crime scene and found a small berth about the size of a small four person submarine."
Gordon cut him off. "I know where you're going with this. You're not going to do anything that will put my daughter in danger." He pushed his glasses back up his nose and leaned back, his fingers making a steeple. "You're going to leave this case alone Dick, or I'll revoke your badge. Clear?"
Dick sighed. "Yes sir. I'll head back to work now." He rose to leave but Gordon said something. "Pardon me sir?"
"I said," Gordon replied, "I'm just as worried about Barbara as you are, if not more." He sighed. "Head back to work."
Dick nodded. "Yes sir." He went back to his desk and saw Harvey on the way. "Hey Harvey, did you ever do that research on the Wilson girl?"
"Oh right! I did get something on that. You want me to give you the file?" Harvey asked, sitting down at his desk and began rooting through some folders on his desk. "Found it!" he cried and passed it to Dick. "Bring that back when you're done."
Dick said, "Thanks Harv. I'll get this back to you ASAP." He sat down at his desk and flipped through the file. Kori Wilson, age 16. She was six foot two, which was extremely tall for a girl. Dick tapped his chin thoughtfully before leaving and heading back to Commissioner Gordon's office. "Sir, I think I know a way we can get Barbara back that won't interfere with Slade."
Jim leaned forward. "I'm listening."
Dick laid down his plan for the Commissioner, who listened with interest and finally, the older man said, "Dick, you've got something. Let's see if it works. Post the bulletin as soon as you can."
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The radio was blaring in the small area. Kori wanted to turn the blasted thing off, but her father was listening to it. Just then, the disc jockey came on. "Hello Gotham City! I am proud to announce that we have a new contest on this radio station! It's called Gotham Radio Idol! This round of auditions is only open to females between the ages of 14 and 18. Whoever wins the round will get a $250 music shopping spree courtesy of the Gotham City Shopping Center. The auditions will be held tomorrow at Center Court from 10:00 AM to noon." A few more sponsor ads came on before the radio returned to the music.
"Hey Dad…" Kori said, but she got cut off.
"I know what you're going to say and the answer is no. I bet anything that this is a trap from the police to snag me down. You're not going anywhere."
Kori pointed to the refrigerator. "We're running low on supplies and you're almost out of booze. Let me go get the food and drinks and I'll stop by the auditions. If I see a single cop, I'll leave and come straight back. Deal?"
Slade looked in the fridge and sure enough, the food was almost gone. Sighing, he said, "Okay. We have enough to keep us until then. You can go shopping, but you remember to come straight home if there are cops at the auditions. Got it?" His voice told her he meant business.
She nodded. "Okay Dad. You got it." She was secretly happy. She knew that it was a trap too, but she was going to walk right into it. She'd had enough of her father abusing people. She quickly grabbed some sandwiches and milk before heading back to give them to Barbara. 'He may be evil, but at least he's humane,' she thought to herself.
Barbara looked a fair bit thinner, but she was still alive. The door opened and she braced herself for more 'fun'. This was the longest he had ever kept a prisoner before he killed them. Imagine her surprise when she saw the girl come in with some food and milk. "Thanks," she said hoarsely before ripping into the sandwiches.
Kori lowered her voice and whispered, "I'm going to get help tomorrow. Don't worry about it. One more night okay?" She took the dishes when the other redhead was finished. She closed the door and bolted it before placing the dishes in the sink. 'I'll get you outta here. I promise.'
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Dick smirked. His plan was probably working. No matter where he was, Slade probably had a radio with him, so the ad that was playing on the only Gotham radio station would have to have reached him by now. He had finished all the cases that were on his desk, except for the Simons case, which he too was stuck on. "Now we wait," Dick said to himself as he shut off his light and got ready to leave for the night.
Harvey was just heading downstairs so Dick called, "Hey Harv, wait up!"
The other man stopped and looked at Dick as he took the stairs between them two at a time. "Hey Dick, what's going on? Got all your cases solved I see." They started walking down to the garage as they talked.
"I wish I got them all done. I'm stuck on the Simons case too. Might have to call in some outside help on this one. My adopted brother, Tim, lives out in Jump City. He's the best guy on the squad, so I'll give him a call sometime."
"Not a bad idea," Harvey said, reaching his car. "Getting a pair of fresh eyes on something can point out something you didn't see. Night Dick." He got in and started the engine with a low rumble. The car rolled slowly out of the garage and onto the main street, Dick's car right behind. Harvey took a left at the intersection and Dick took a right.
Dick reached his house ten minutes later and quickly got ready to bed. It had been a long day. He'd call Tim in the morning after the auditions at the mall. Setting his alarm for 7:00, he flicked off the light and drifted off into sleep.
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Kori was having trouble sleeping. She had a feeling her father knew what she was going to do and place a microphone or a tracer on her somehow. Sighing, she rolled over and stuffed her face into her pillow. Thankfully, she couldn't hear anything in the room next door. Those earplugs she had bought at the store last time were coming in handy.
'Just one more night Barbara,' she thought to herself. 'I'll get you out of here.' She closed her eyes and tried to get what sleep she could. She was getting up at 7:00.
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7:00 the next morning, the alarm went off. Groaning, Dick rolled over, slapped it off and got out of bed. His feet padded on the hardwood flooring as he made his way to the bathroom. Just then, the phone rang. Sighing, he went to the kitchen to answer it. "Dick Grayson speaking," he said, yawning halfway through Grayson.
"Dick, it's Donna. How's the case coming?" It was Roy's fiancée calling again. She did this every morning ever since Roy had been killed.
He exhaled through his nose. "Donna, how many time do I have to tell you, when I solve the case, you'll be the first one I'll call? If you call one more time, I'm going to have to place you under arrest for harassment of a police officer. Clear?"
She sighed. "Yes Dick. I understand. Just call me if anything comes up, alright?"
"Okay Donna. You know that I will. Talk to you later." He hung up the phone and went back to the bathroom just as the phone rang again. Grumbling under his breath, he went back to answer it. "Dick Grayson speaking."
Donna again. "Dick, can you come down here? I found something that you might be interested in."
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A/N: You want to find out what happens to Kori and see what Donna found is so important? Well, you'll have to read the next chapter to find out! In the meantime, how about a review?
Love, peace and chicken grease
Dash