A/N: This one is short, but it sets up for the next part. Stay Tuned.
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Forever Robin
By
AJ
Part 8
After several hours Alfred reported that he found several small devices attached to the wiring in several distinct places in the Manor.
"I found the devices in your study and bedroom, Master Bruce. Also, in the kitchen and in the pool area. I also found one in Master Dick's bedroom. Some were connected to wall switches others to lamps and especially to the digital clocks. When one would use a particular wall switch or lamp, the person would receive a shock of electricity, heavy and long enough to hold that person in place. It would be assisted with any metal that person may be wearing."
"Such as my watch," Bruce added. "It had a metal band."
"How would that affect the clocks?" Dick asked.
"Whoever set up the devices wanted to show the time of death, much like a bomb going off."
"The devices must give off a signal," Dick said.
"Alfred, what time did you find me?" Bruce asked.
"It was a little after 2:00 am," Alfred stated.
"After I got back from patrol."
"2:02 exactly," Dick said. That's what gave me the idea that it also was an SOS. Would sending a sudden electrical surge disable the devices?" Dick questioned.
"It should," Alfred answered.
"Do it. If it means burning out a few digital clocks, we can always replace those. The surge should only focus on the devices and nothing else."
"Very good, Master Bruce."
"Have Wayne Enterprise purchase John Kober and Fred Tinney's properties," Dick said.
Bruce Wayne gave his son a questioning look.
Kober and Tinny both lived alone. There were no other relatives according to their obituaries. By purchasing the properties that will keep anyone else falling into the trap that Doc Hastings has set. We can then sweep those properties and remove the devices later."
"Good thinking, Dick," Bruce commented. "That leaves our third victim. He doesn't fit Hastings motive."
"A test case," Dick surmised. "If we look at the dates, each victims supposedly died, his was at least a full three weeks before the other two. Hastings needed to test his devices. I don't think he wanted his victims to die instantly. He wanted to shock the person's nervous system and show the heart rate so it could be mistaken for death. The person would eventually come out of the shock on their own. It could take a couple of days and by that time happens, it would be too late. They would find themselves trapped, buried alive where they would eventually suffocate."
"Horrible," Alfred said. "To use someone like that."
'And that's what Hastings planned for us, because the four of us put him behind bars,' Bruce thought.
"He'd been plotting his revenge all this time, probably working on those fiendish devices," Dick said.
"And he wanted to add a fifth victim," Bruce added.
"A fifth victim?" Dick questioned.
"You," Bruce replied, placing a hand on Dick's shoulder and giving it a squeeze.
"This device came from your bedroom, Master Richard," Alfred pointed out.
"Can we track the signal from this device to wherever it may come from?" Dick asked.
"Let me see what I can do with it. You go to Jim Gordon's house. We need to stake it out."
"Barbara said the electrician will be doing the work tomorrow. I think I may have something better in mind."
Dick grabbed the detector that Alfred used as well as a tracking device. He doubted that Doc Hastings was capable of setting up everything by himself. He looked up Hastings police record. The man had to be in his 70's now. And the only way he could have done it was with help. Wearing his Robin uniform, Dick placed both the detector and the tracking device in a small back pack, jumping on his motorcycle and sped out the bat cave.
Continues with Part 9