Part 1
Chapter 1
8:49 AM November 6th 2010, Batcave
Clark reads over Richard's note for the tenth time. "I don't get it Bruce, he just left?"
"That's what the note says," Diana utters.
Clark, Diana, Barry, Oliver, Dinah and Red Tornado are sitting all sitting around the batcave staring at me. After I found the note in Dick's room I contacted those in the League I know are closest to and spend the most time with Dick, hoping they had some answers. Unfortunately, they are all just as clueless as I am about the cause of Dick's sudden disappearance.
"Did he say anything before he left?" Clark asks.
"No" I answer from the computer. Selina and I have been searching through the mansion's security tapes for the past hour while Alfred surveyed upstairs for any clues to Dick's disappearance.
"How about you Selina?"
Selina shakes her head, still not looking away from the screen. "Nothing that would make me think he was planning on leaving."
"Well why did he?" Oliver asks. Out of all the other League members, the archer seems to be taking the news the hardest, probably making connections to Roy's leave.
"We don't know!" I snap, turning from the computer towards the League. "That's why I called all of you, to find out. For all I know he could be kidnapped and was forced to write the note!"
"Okay, let's all calm down and think" Diana says. "Black Canary, Red Tornado, do you know if Dick said anything to Young Justice?" They both answer no. "Well the note said he left to protect you Bruce, did anything happen while on patrol?"
"No, except for one or two villains it's been pretty quiet lately. Just the usual petty crime, nothing big or unusual."
"Dick wouldn't just leave for no reason!" Barry exclaims. Ever since hearing the news, the speedster has been silently staring at the cave wall, thinking.
Oliver asks quietly, "Did you two have a fight?"
"No! We were fine, everything was fine" I explain. "Yesterday, he seemed great. He laughed throughout all of dinner, telling us a story of what happened at school that day. We spared for a while, I helped him with his homework, and then he went to bed. Nothing unusual."
"Maybe we should talk to Young Justice and Roy. They might know something."
I nod and am about to respond when Selina interjects, "Found something." In a second I am next to her, watching the screen. I feel the League gather around behind me.
"Look" Selina says, playing the video. The camera is pointing down the hallway containing the manor's bedrooms. The hall is empty for a while, then a person appears. Their long black hair and figure tells me it is a woman. We don't see her face, but she is dressed in black pants, black flats, and a dark purple almost leather looking jacket. The woman hurriedly walks away from the camera, towards Dick's bedroom. She quietly opens the door and slips in.
"What the hell?" Barry mumbles. There are similar reactions from a couple others.
"How did we not hear her?" Selina asks me. Shock written all over her face.
"Better question, why did she only appear in this footage or didn't set off any alarms?" I comment.
"Is there anything different about the camera?" Red Tornado asks.
Then it clicks, "Maybe, let me check something quick." I scroll through the notes I made about the security system. My hunch was correct. "J'onn gave it to me. It's some type of alien technology that we were testing out for the Watchtower. This is one of four I have randomly around the manor."
"That's weird Bruce" Oliver comments.
I send him a glare. "It still doesn't make any sense why the other cameras didn't see her."
"Maybe she's an alien" Barry suggests.
"None that League is aware of" Clark argues.
"Even if she were, don't you have alarms all over the place?" Oliver points out. "Why didn't they go off?"
On the screen, the woman appears again. She quickly exits Dick's bedroom and rushes down the hall from which she entered from. Right behind her is Dick carrying a duffel bag. He has a nervous expression on his face as he hurriedly follows the woman off camera.
"That was quick" Selina comments. "She was barely in there five minutes."
"Do you think Dick was expecting her?" Clark inquires.
"I have no idea" I answer, getting to work on the computer. I rewind the footage to when the woman is walking towards the camera. Pausing the footage, I zoom in on her face. Thanks to the camera being more advance, I can get a pretty good clear look at her face.
The room grows silent when the picture pops up. At first I am shocked to see how young the woman is. She can't be a day over sixteen! How did she get past my advanced security system? The woman's long black hair frames her face. I stare at the familiar blue eyes and sharp nose. This can't be real.
"Maybe she's a girlfriend?" Barry jokes hopefully.
"She's not a girlfriend" Oliver says seriously. None of us want to say out loud what we are thinking.
"Bruce, Selina, do you know who she is?" Clark asks.
Selina shakes her head, I answer "No."
"We should show her picture to Young Justice" Dinah states. "Maybe they have seen her before."
"I'll ask around Gotham too. Edward or Harley may recognize her." Selina has kept up a friendly relationship with some of the criminals in Gotham. While she was a criminal herself, Selina had gained a lot of respect from the criminal community that continued even after she stopped.
I can only nod at all the comments. I'm still staring at the screen, stunned by our new discovery. I begin running the woman's face through every file I have. Hoping she will pop up somewhere, or at least give me a name.
The League continues on with discussing what they will do to help. I ignore them all, concentrating on my task. Fear and worry drive me. If this had been a kidnapping, I would be distressed but at least I would have been able to do something. Dick left by what looks like his own free will though, and all I have to find him is this girl's face. I am clueless on what to do, and that scares me even more. I am trying my hardest to hide it from the League, but I am truly terrified.
Selina seems to have sensed my distress. She puts a hand on my shoulder and whispers "We will figure this out Bruce. We will find him." I can hear worry in her voice.
Still working, I tell her "I just want my son back."
4:02 PM November 6th 2010, Mount Justice
The young team and Roy look at the computer screen in confusion. The picture of the girl who took Dick is up; I had asked them if they recognized her. Aqualad, Artemis, and M'gann shook their heads no. Superboy is staring at the screen with a strange look, as if he's solving a puzzle. Roy and Wally, being the only ones who know what Richard looks like without a mask, look at each other with hesitant eyes, then me.
Wally asks cautiously, "Where is Robin?"
"I think he may know more about her than we would" Roy adds.
I glare at the two, signaling for them to drop it. "Do you recognize her from anywhere?" I ask sternly.
"No" Roy answers, Wally mumbles the same.
"Batman, what is this about?" Aqualad asks. "Is this some type of test or assessment? Should we recognize the girl?"
I dodge the question, "All of you think. Does she look familiar at all? Have you ever seen her on a mission?" Wally and Roy look like they want to say something, but wisely choose not to.
Artemis, M'gann again shake their heads. Aqualad is surprised from not getting his questions answered and Superboy is still staring strangely at the screen.
"Superboy" I say. He doesn't respond. "Superboy!" I growl, gaining his attention. "Do you recognize her?"
"I well…" he looks at the screen. "I've never seen her before. It's just…I've never seen her before."
"What are you hiding?" I ask sternly.
"Nothing, I swear."
"Connor, what is it?" M'gann asks worriedly.
Superboy looks away from the martian. "It's nothing. She's just…" he blushes.
"Got a crush Supes?" Wally teases, smirking. "She is cute."
Superboy's face reddens, giving us an answer. Miss Martian looks almost horrified at her boyfriend.
"Well this is awkward" Artemis says.
I roll my eyes at the teenagers. This is not the time for their relationship problems. Annoyed, I get the conversation back on track. "Are you all sure you never seen this girl before?"
"Should we?" Artemis asks.
"Batman, where is Robin?" Wally asks asserting.
I send him another glare. Roy adds "What is this all about? Who is she?"
I sigh, knowing I won't get their cooperation until they receive the desired information. "As most of you have assumed, Robin does in fact live with me. Last night around two in the morning, this woman broke into our house. She didn't show up on any security cameras except for one that Martian Manhunter had given me. Five minutes after arriving, she left with Robin."
"Robin's been kidnapped!?" Wally exclaims. The team, except for Superboy, develop shocked faces. Roy and Wally look as if they are about to freak out.
Superboy on the other hand, scrunches his face in confusion and says, "That can't be right."
The team gives him incredulous looks. "What are you talking about?!" Wally barks.
"He's actually correct" I state.
"What?" Wally asked confused.
"We have video of Robin willingly leaving with this girl and a note saying the same. There was no struggle." I glare at Superboy, "How did you know that?"
"I didn't know" he answers. Looking at the screen he explains, "I just don't think she would have done that."
"Just because she's cute, doesn't mean this girl isn't bad news!" Roy snaps at the clone. His older brother side coming out. "How do we know she didn't make Robin go with her?"
"We can't for sure" I explain. "But he left with a duffel bag full of clothes. What kind of kidnappers convince their prey to pack and sneak out with them in less than five minutes."
"So you think he knew she was coming" Aqualad states.
I sigh, "I hope it is not true. But that is what this looks like."
"He could have been hypnotized!" Wally exclaims, on the verge of hysterical. "Or maybe she was using mind control on him!"
"From the way he was acting, Martian Manhunter thinks that is highly unlikely."
The team stays quiet for a while. All digesting the new information. I break the silence, "Now, are you all sure you have never seen this girl before?"
The teenagers shake their heads, still thinking everything over.
Wally finally bursts and points at the screen, "Are we really going to ignore this!"
Everyone except Roy and I look at Wally confused.
I snap at the teen, "There is no proof supporting that."
"C'mon Batman" Roy says irritated. "She looks just like him."
"There is no solid evidence…"
"They are obviously related!" Wally interrupts me.
Aqualad, Superboy, Artemis and Miss Martian look shocked. They stare at the picture, as if seeing someone completely different from before.
I settle my anger, before calmly saying "We have not found anything linking the two. There is no evidence proving Robin has a family member matching her description. As you two know, the only blood relation he has left is a dying uncle."
"Well have you asked him about this?" Roy asks.
"I've tried, but haven't been able to get ahold of him yet. Apparently he is on some cruise."
"You don't know him?" Miss Martian asks.
I pinch the bridge of my nose, not happy with how much information I am letting slip. "Robin's uncle doesn't live in America. Before Robin was even born, the man discovered he had cancer and has been fighting it for years. When I called, his doctor had said the man's health had started to decline last year, so he has been going on vacation frequently."
They all nod understandingly. Aqualad inquires
"Do you have any idea who she could be otherwise?"
"No. I along with the League and Catwoman have been trying to find any sort of information about her all day."
"And have been inconclusive?"
I nod.
"Do you know anyone else who may know who the girl is?" Roy asks hopefully.
Again I nod. "There is one man. I was hoping one of you would recognize her so I wouldn't have to confront him."
10:00 AM November 7th 2010, Arkham Asylum
"I don't know what you hope to accomplish Mr. Wayne" the doctor comments while leading me down the hall. "Mr. Zucco is pretty far gone."
"All I need is a few answers" I explain. "I'm pretty sure he will know them, it's probably what has been eating at him to the point of getting committed."
The doctor nods, "I assume you are confronting him about the episode he had when your son saw him last year."
"Yes."
"Has something happened?" the doctor asks concerned.
"It is complicated." I have been trying to keep Dick's disappearance out of the papers. It being so strange, I have a feeling it will eventually lead to the League getting very involved. When Dick returns, which I am determined to make happen, I don't want the press pestering him about the League. So the story I've told Dick's school is that he is taking time away from the paparazzi and going to boarding school. "Basically I am hoping he can identify a person for me."
We reach the cell holding Tony Zucco. I was told I am allowed to speak to him through the window in the door. Looking in, I see that Zucco is laying on a bed, staring at the ceiling. The doctor knocks on the door, Zucco snaps his head over.
When he sees me, Zucco smiles slyly "Mr. Wayne. I was wondering when I would see you."
The doctor and I exchange confused looks.
Zucco laughs and gets up from the bed. "I take it the kid finally bolted."
"He did no such thing" I lie. I'm not going to give this monster satisfaction.
"Why else would you be here then?" Zucco chuckles. "He left just like I said he would."
Reaching into my bag, I grab a paper copy of the picture of the girl. I hold it up so Zucco can see "Do you recognize this girl?"
Zucco stares quietly at the picture, then suddenly breaks into a fit of hysterical laughter. "Wow. She's grown since I last saw the brat. Gotten pretty cute too, well she was before. But now…I mean…Wow! She's all grown up."
My stress level goes up a bit. I'm relieved that I found someone who knows this girl. But since it is Tony Zucco who knows her, that cannot be good.
"Who is she?"
"Don't you recognize her, Mr. Wayne? You've seen her before."
"What are you talking about?" I ask, utterly confused.
Zucco lets out another laugh, "You don't remember do you? Well I guess you were focused on someone else at the time."
The man is really starting to irritate me. "Just answer my question, who is she?" I snarl.
"I can't tell you that!" Zucco exclaims, acting like I'm the idiot. "My former boss wouldn't be too happy with me if I did."
"You are in the world's most heavily guarded mental asylum, I'm sure your boss won't be able to get to you" I try to reason.
Yet again, Zucco laughs. "You don't know who my employer was."
"Enlighten me" I say.
"If I can't tell you who that girl is, why would you think I could tell you the name of my employer?"
I roll my eyes, "What did you mean I've already met the girl."
"Ah, not met" Zucco smirks. "Seen."
"When did I see her" I snarl.
"Think about it Wayne. You'll figure it out."
At this point, I am beyond frustrated. "So you aren't going to tell me anything."
"Why don't you ask the bastard that turned me in? She and the other one have helped him out in the past, he probably knows her."
"Commissioner Gordon?" I ask. If that's true, Gordon will be more than willing to explain who the girl is.
"No! The night-obsessed ballerina this city calls a hero."
"Batman? When did he work with her?" What in the world is he talking about? I've never met this girl as Bruce Wayne or Batman.
"Go ask him!"
I internally sigh. I know if I push any further on the Batman issue, I might make Zucco or the guards suspicious. Instead I say, "I will. What did you mean by 'the other one'?"
Zucco chuckles, "Wouldn't you like to know."
Rolling my eyes, I turn to leave. It is obvious I won't be getting any information out of this man. As I am leaving, Zucco calls out from his cell
"Mr. Wayne. If your son is with that girl, you don't have to worry." He laughs and adds, "He'll be with his real daddy soon."
My heart drops.
9:36 PM November 13th 2010, Batcave
Another file finishes scanning on my computer. Like the others, it comes out negative for any relation to the girl's face. Disappointment sets in yet again. I have gone through every single one of my files twice, trying to make sense of what Zucco said about Batman working with the girl.
Normally, I wouldn't look too much into what a madman told me. Usually I would assume they are lying and move on. But Zucco did predict Dick's leave years ago. Even if he is going crazy, Zucco so far hasn't lied. Played mind games, yes, but has not lied. That makes me more nervous about the last thing he told me about Dick 'being with his real daddy soon.' I have to find Dick before that girl or maybe 'the other one' kills him. The thought of not finding him in time makes my body clench.
A yell "Bruce!" snaps me out of my thoughts. I turn to see Selina dressed in her Catwoman outfit rushing over to me at the computer. A look of happiness on her face.
"Selina, what is it?" I ask, not necessarily in a good move.
"I know the girl's name" she declares.
"What?" I ask, almost not believing her at first. Hope begins to swell through me.
"Her name is Jasmine Kelly" Selina explains. "The Riddler had a hunch when I showed him her picture last week and figured it out. He did some digging with a friend from one of the mobs. Turns out that mob has been looking for her too with no success."
"Why didn't she come up in any of our files then?" Over the years, the League has collected a good library full of those involved with or wanted by every mob.
"Too high profile. Only the bosses know about her, and they are not willing to talk." That explains how Zucco knows her. "The boss Edward talked to was weary about telling him her name. The henchmen don't even know the girl exists."
I begin typing the name Jasmine Kelly into the computer, hopefully the name will pop up somewhere. But Selina stops me, "She won't show up in you system Bruce. You have to go to the Watchtower's database."
"Why?" My computer has most of the same information as the one at the watchtower. Anything that has to do with Gotham, mob's connections to Gotham, or any case I've worked is in my computer.
"Because she isn't from the U.S. She's from England."
-Ten minutes later in the Watchtower-
"Recognizing Batman 02 and guest." Selina isn't technically part of the League, so she is still considered a guest at the Watchtower.
We both quickly make our way to the Monitor Room. J'onn is on duty; he is surprised when Selina and I burst in. Too focused on my task, I don't even give the martian a glance. I rush to the computer and begin doing a search for the name Jasmine Kelly.
"Batman, what is the meaning of this?" J'onn asks.
"Has the League ran the girl's picture through our European files?"
"Not yet, we were still on South America. Why?"
"Selina figured out her name. Jasmine Kelly, she's from England."
The computer starts to analyze all of its European files pertaining to any mob. Hopefully it doesn't take long, names are easier to search for than faces. I hear J'onn behind me notify the League of Selina's discovery and our presence at the Watchtower. Knowing them, a few should show up eventually.
I watch the screen as the computer quickly scans all of its files. After only a couple minutes, Barry dashes in followed shortly by Clark. A while later Oliver and Dinah show up. Selina explains everything to the group as I work. I don't pay them any piece of mind, too focused on the screen. My heart feels like it is beating a million times faster. As each file flies through the program, I am getting more nervous. What if she isn't in any of our files? The Justice League has files on almost everything in the lower divisions of the mobs. But it gets harder to get information on higher profile mobsters and their missions since they keep them so private.
After about twenty minutes, a match finally pops up. My relief is short lived when I see how little information there is. The girls name pops up Jasmine Kelly along with a headshot, except she looks like she's twelve in the picture. The profile doesn't contain much, just facial feature explanation and a birthdate, which could be fake for all we know.
"She has a brother" Clark points out.
Indeed, there is a link under the girl's profile stating family. 'Joey Kelly-brother' is the only name. My heart skips a beat. If Dick is related to this girl, then 'Joey' must be him.
Clicking on the link, I am slightly relieved when a picture of a teenage boy who isn't Dick pops up. Joey shares a lot of similar facial features as his sister. Black hair, blue eyes, and sharp lines such as his jaw and nose but Jasmine has softer and lighter eyes. He has a charming smirk on his face and looks around sixteen. There is a bit more information on Joey than there is Jasmine. His profile states that he started working for the mob in June of 2002 basically as a henchman, but ran from it in August. He was recruited from a street gang in England and his only family is his sister, who the file says lived with Joey.
Clark looks over at me and says quietly, "As much as Jasmine did, Joey looks even more like…"
"I know" I snarl. "We still have no proof of any genetic link, so for now drop it."
"Why are you so against the idea of them being related?" Clark snaps.
I don't acknowledge the question. The truth is, I don't really have an answer. Redirecting the conversation, I say "Why would the mob be so interested in the sister of a runaway henchman?"
"Maybe she and her brother saw something they weren't supposed to" Oliver proposes.
"Still, why would they be so 'high profile' that only higher up management would know about them?" Dinah argues. "Wouldn't the bosses want to find the two as soon as possible. That is a lot easier when you have more people looking for them."
"A bigger question is, where is Joey?" J'onn adds. "Why was Jasmine the only one to pick up Dick from the manor?"
"He was probably the one to mess with the security tapes" Barry states.
"Or he's gotten taken out" Selina comments.
"Look we don't know if this Joey is even involved" I speak. "What I want to know, is how Dick met Jasmine in the first place."
"You said Zucco had told you that Batman had worked with the girl before. Correct?" Barry asks.
"Yes" I answer gruffly. "But that is complete nonsense. I had never seen her before all of this."
"Still, that means she must live in Gotham or at least visited" Barry reasons. "Dick could have met her on patrol or maybe even around school."
Huh, for once the speedster actually has a good idea. "There is no way to know about patrol if Dick didn't mention her in his reports. But I can hack into his school's security cameras to see if she or her brother ever visited Dick."
"Have you asked any of his school friends about the girl?" Clark inquires. "They could have seen her."
"I'll ask. I know Dick was close to Jim Gordon's daughter Barbra."
7:45 AM November 14th 2010, Gotham Academy
I spot the red-headed junior walking towards the school doors. She is talking to a couple other girls I recognize from school functions, one I think also did a project with Dick last year. I walk over to the group of girls, clearing my throat to gain their attention.
Barbra turns and smiles when she sees me, "Hello Mr. Wayne." Barbra is a frequent visitor at the mansion because of her and Dick's friendship, so we know each other well enough.
"Hello Barbra, how are you today?" I greet back.
"Good, how about you?" she asks.
"Fine, I am actually here to ask you something."
The other girls speak up, "Hey Barbs, we'll see you in class?" The girls don't really pay much attention to me. Being an upper class school, it is common for parents to spend time here, trying to get special treatment for their kids.
"Okay, I'll see you later" Barbra waves. She turns her attention back to me, "What is it you want to know? Is Dick alright, I haven't heard from him in a while."
"He just transferred to a different school" I answer, covering the truth. "Wanted to get away from the media." Barbra nods understandingly. "I wanted to know if you have seen these two people before" I show her pictures of Jasmine and Joey.
Barbra scrunches her nose in concentration. After a minute she answers, "Yeah, I have actually. They came by the school to talk to Dick a couple times."
"When?" I ask, maybe too quickly.
Taken aback a bit by my outburst. Barbra slowly begins to answer "I'm not exactly sure, the first time was last year. Dick has had lunch with them two or three times since then. He said they were old friends."
"Did Dick say anything else about them?" I ask.
"No, I never asked."
"Thank you Barbara" I say, walking away.
"Mr. Wayne" the girl calls after me. I turn as she asks concerned, "Is Dick really okay? Did those people do something to him?"
I struggle to answer. I can tell the girl is genuinely concerned about her friend, it almost isn't fair that I have to lie to her. "As far as I know he is doing fine" I finally blurt out.
Barbra nods yet seems skeptical of my answer. She makes her way into the school, looking back before she moves through the doors.
My phone rings in my pocket. I groan, not wanting to deal with work right now. Pulling the phone out of my pocket, I notice it is the League calling.
"Yes?" I say into the phone.
"Bruce!" Barry exclaims from the other line. "Weknowwheretheyare!"
"Barry slow down" I scowl. "What are you talking about?"
"We know where Jasmine and Dick are" Barry says slower. "They are at a gas station in southern New Hampshire."
"How do you know?" I ask fervently.
"J'onn's monitor system. Remember it scans faces on security cameras around the world. Dick and Jasmine just popped up."
I practically start sprinting to my car, needing to get to the Watchtower as soon as possible. "Any sign of Joey?"
"No. Just the two."
"I'm on my way."
-At the Watchtower-
"So does this program connect to every security system?" I ask J'onn.
"No" he answers. "Just lower quality such as gas stations, stores, or restaurants."
"But it will scan everyone's face who shows up on camera."
"Yes, then the computer will notify us on Dick and Jasmines whereabouts. I also programed Joey in, but he wasn't with the other two at the gas station, so I don't think he is traveling with them."
I nod, "Thank you J'onn. This is amazing."
J'onn looks surprised by my thank you. It is rare that I show the League any emotion, so appreciation isn't a common occurrence from me.
I sit down at one of the computers and begin to look over the tape from the gas station. Barry and J'onn watch the screen from behind me.
The first clip is of a car pulling into the gas station. But it doesn't go to a pump, instead it pulls into a parking space. Jasmine steps out of the driver's seat wearing a red tank-top and jean shorts; she is smirking at something. Dick gets out of the front passenger side, apparently on some rant. He is dressed in some black sweatpants and a jersey too big for him along with a baseball hat and sunglasses, hiding his identity somewhat. Jasmine rolls her eyes at Dick's antics and leads him into the store.
I flip to footage of inside the building. As the two enter, Dick runs to the food aisle while Jasmine goes towards the drinks. Jasmine grabs a few bottles of water, turns around and almost runs into Dick who had noticed he wasn't followed. Dick smiles sheepishly at the girl, who playfully nudges him. The two laugh and head towards the food. Dick begins to grab a couple bags of chips, only to put all but one back when Jasmine gives him a disapproving look. The rest of the footage is pretty much the same. The two grab some fruit, poptarts, lunchables, doughnuts, sandwiches and a few slices of pizza before checking out. Jasmine pays for the food with some cash, and the two leave the building. As they walk back to their car, Dick must make a sassy comment because Jasmine throws the receipt in his face. The two then get in the car and drive off.
"At least we know he's okay" Barry says. I don't respond.
J'onn adds "Robin seems to be acting pretty normal. That is good."
I am relieved to know that Dick is out and healthy. I've been having nightmares of him being locked up and tortured in some basement. Now those fears are somewhat settled, but not completely. I still can't get what Zucco said out of my head.
"The program will notify me whenever their faces pop up?" I ask.
"Yes. It will also give you their location."
I pull up a map and begin adjusting it's settings to connect to the program. Barry looks over my shoulder and inquires, "What are you doing?"
"Having the computer keep track of where the two show up. It they show a pattern, hopefully we can intercept them at some point."