Disclaimer

The characters used in the story are the property of DC Comics and Warner Bros. I have used them in the story which is entirely a product of my own imagination. However the characters names Mark Smith, Amelia Smith and Gregory Smith are my own creations as a part of the story and do not refer to any person, living or dead

Chap 22

Diana tried hard not to get emotional.

"It's not easy as you say, Superman, for the main substance which holds the case is missing. The evidence, I do not possess the evidence that the Smiths are responsible for the metropolis general scandal. My sister had it, but - it was taken away…"

"By Mark?" Batman questioned.

"Yes!" she answered.

Superman was reluctant to speak, and Batman had asked his question. Someone else had to take the initiative to carry on the conversation, and GL captured the opportunity perfectly.

"Yet he killed your sister, there is no point denying that!" he made his point.

Diana remained silent, as though his remark pained her. Batman did not offer to pursue the line either, for he looked to be lost in his own world. It was left for GL's exploration.

"We can prove that he killed your sister, and from there, we can backtrack to the hospital scandal," he suggested.

"And how do you propose to do that?" Hawk Girl questioned.

"I need a picture of your sister." Batman spoke abruptly.

"You s… I mean you can find it on the Internet, with the news article about her murder." Diana replied hastily. Batman narrowed his eyes and returned to his own world of investigation after saying, "Carry on, GL!"

Hawk Girl's question was still in the air - how do you propose to do that?

"I am sure we can find some evidence in her apartment!" GL suggested.

"But the woman had been dead for three months. Don't you think it is impractical to try to raid her apartment for evidence now?" Hawk Girl pointed.

"Perhaps Superman and I can find something they had missed," Jonn suggested, "with our gifted perceptions." He turned to Superman, who still didn't look interested.

Superman grew restless.

"I don't think I can help here in anyway. I would rather not want to get involved in this business. I'm sure the league can do better without a reluctant player. I'm off!"

Saying so, he shot one last unpalatable glance at Diana and rose to leave.

"Wait!" Batman interjected. Superman frowned.

"You won't talk me into this, batman!" he said gravely.

"Neither do I intend to. In fact I intend to follow you. I don't think there is anything I can do either. You guys can go ahead and do all that you can to solve this case." He rose too.

"Wait! I admit you are the master detective; you don't have to get so cranky. Tell us how to proceed." GL said, exasperated.

"No, GL, I really don't have anything to say. In the light of the events, I think it is better to follow your line of thought. And I encourage you to do that. Adding to what Superman said, the league can do without disinterested and clueless players." He turned to Diana and spoke almost apologetically, "I am sorry I can do nothing to help you out!"

He left without another word, and Superman found himself following him. As they left the conference room, Diana sighed sadly.

"I am sure they're angry with me. I bet you are too," she said, turning to others.

"No Diana!" Hawk Girl replied, almost immediately, "We know that you had your reason in doing what you had done, and none of us can even for a moment, believe that you would harm anyone on purpose. We're with you in this, and we'll get you out of it!" she smiled genially, and Diana managed to smile weakly.

GL interjected. "What I don't understand is - why is Batman so cranky? I mean I understand that Superman is mad at you for all that you've done, and he has right to be, for he is a man who is particularly concerned with the means of achieving an end being acceptable by law. But Batman never shies away from resorting to any unlawful means to achieve his end, provided that the end is a right one. I thought he actually approved of your methods, till Superman raised an objection."

"I think he said he can do nothing to solve the case!" Flash remarked.

"And what does that mean?" GL pointed. "Does he consider himself incapable of solving the case? – I think it is highly unlikely for he is the World's greatest detective. Then does it mean that he cannot do anything because doing something which has to be done would hurt his morality – again a far-fetched reasoning, for as I said, he does not worry about the means. That only leaves one possibility that he does not want to get involved, like Superman."

"And why do you suppose he asked for the picture?" Hawk Girl questioned.

"Did you read his mind, Jonn?" GL asked.

"In fact I did. But he cleverly blew me off track by conjuring up a mental image of his choice, thus hiding his true motive." Jonn replied.

"Do you think he does not want us to know his line of thought?" Flash asked.

"Well I don't see a reason why it should be kept a secret, from us." GL remarked.

"Well he might not completely trust us. I don't think he does!" Flash said.

Hawk Girl interrupted the conversation. "Let's forget about him, and Superman for a while. If they are not interested, then let them not be. If Batman is onto something which he does not want us to know, then it is up to him. We are not going to sit here idle. Diana! We will visit your sister's apartment."

Diana simply nodded.

GL summarised "All right, it is settled then. We're going to Lisa's…or whatever her name is…apartment, now! We'll see what we can find there. And then, we'll keep an eye on the Smiths."

"I will do that!" Diana offered.

"No, not you! You see your plan hasn't worked, and the chances are that Mark might know you by face already. We'll think of something more subtle. But for now, let's go to Metropolis."

GL rose, and the others followed him. Diana rose too, although she seemed not entirely convinced.

"And why did you withdraw?" Superman asked.

Batman had offered him a lift to Metropolis, for the first time. Superman could only guess that he wished to talk to him. They had just entered the earth's atmosphere, and were flying over the Atlantic.

Batman did not reply. His eyes were fixed on the controls. Superman reiterated.

"Why did you withdraw?"

"I think I am not required to be on the case, Clarke! And I intend to detach myself from this too." He said, finally.

"And you expect me to believe that?" Superman frowned.

"Believe what you want! But if the case is so straight as it looks to be, then I hardly find it necessary to waste my time on it." He took a sharp turn, avoiding a cliff.

"You are being hard on her, aren't you?" Superman spoke, as he recovered from the sudden change in acceleration.

"For all that she'd done, I don't think it will be unjust on my part if I am," he muttered.

"I don't believe you of all can do it?" Superman allowed a smile.

"Don't you think I am human enough to do it?" Batman retorted.

Superman couldn't help but chuckle. He was losing some of the seriousness as the focus shifted from Winder Woman to Batman.

"Tell you the truth, I never thought of you as one."

"Then what do you think I am?" Batman's mouth twitched a bit.

"A humaniform robot would be my best guess," Superman said, as he leaned forward to see the change in his expression.

Batman remained grave for a while, and then, just as Superman leaned back disappointed, he muttered…

"Bruce Wayne really made it off the cliff this time"