Three weeks and four murders later, the Justice League still had no leads and no reply from the dark detective.
"You know," Wally West (AKA the Flash) leaned up against a control panel in the watch tower, watching J'onn J'onzz (AKA the Martian Manhunter) click and stare at several monitors. "We don't even know the name of this mysterious savior that Bats and the Nut Job were supposed to have met," Wally crossed his arms and leaned in closer, "how are we supposed to trust someone like that?"
J'onn didn't even look up from his work when he answered, "I trust Batman and it wasn't too long ago that we did not know your name."
"That's different," Flash sulked and fumed to his self as he muttered the next sentence. "We don't need another brooding Batman clone."
J'onn let a small smile turn the corners of his lips, the flash always acted like a child. The Martian knew most of it was an act but the scarlet clad hero was truly a child at heart and it was best to let such pure hearted individuals exist.
"Flash…" J'onn was cut off by an alarm that sounded dangerously close to where the two stood, the Martian's fingers flashed over the keys as his eyes scanned the screens. "Flash get to the transporter, I will debrief you when you materialize on surface."
The scarlet speedster didn't have to be told twice, in a wink of an eye he stood ready for transport, "go for it J'onn." With that his from disappeared from sight in a flash of white light.
The flash had to steady his self as the transporters affects put him off balance, "Flash to Watch Tower." He waited several moments before the Martian replied.
"This is Watch Tower," J'onn's voice was distant and steady as he replied, "The Gotham Bank's alarms have been activated, several guards are inside, no civilians." "There is no reply from the bank, we do not know if it is a hostage situation," J'onn waited a moment to let the news set in, "Wally you are on your own, everyone else is busy."
"Copy that Watch Tower," Flash grimaced to himself, "I will report back when all is clear, Flash over and out."
The mike went silent as the scarlet speedster made his way to the bank in question, the windows and glass doors were dark; one was left slightly ajar. "Well how nice of them," Wally edged into the bank, careful to keep his eyes moving, "where are you?" As he stepped forward, Flash almost lost his balance, arms wind milling to keep him standing. "What the…?" when Wally caught his balance he looked down; at his feet a security guard lay bound and gagged.
Wally crouched and checked for pulse and pupil response, all was normal, "sorry but I am going to have to leave you here for now." He stood and almost tripped again when he saw what stood before him. It was like in those horror movies when you look and no one is there but when you look back there
stands the killer with a blood knife. "Who are you?" Wally took a fighting stance, one easily used as a starting point for a run.
"You, Wally West may call me Rob," the person in the dark stepped forward into a shaft of light. With every step there was clicking, almost sounded like high heels but not quite as fake sounding; as the darkness was stripped from the stranger Wally was able to see at least what the stranger was wearing.
"How do you know my name?" Wally stepped backwards, eyes warily on 'Rob'.
A low growling chuckle emanated from the trench coat clad mystery person, "I know a lot about you and the rest of the Justice League. But that's not important right now." Wally searched for a face but what looked like a long hat with a veil hid the face underneath, "I am the contact for the string of murder cases."
Wally was getting a bit aggravated; he couldn't tell what the person looked like and the voice was too hard to distinguish if it was male or female. "How do I know if you are who you say you are?"
"How indeed," Rob sounded amused as he walked towards Flash (for the moment Flash was leaning more towards the stranger being male). The sleeves of the coat were so long that they covered even the tips of the fingers but Rob was not Shorty. When he came to a stop in front of the Flash he stood a good foot taller, which Wally estimated was about 7ft. "How about you take me to the Watch Tower and I have a chat with J'onn?" Wally could almost hear the smile behind the veil.
"Flash to Watch Tower," he waited a moment and tried again, "Watch Tower, this is Flash, come in."
"This is Watch Tower, go ahead Flash."
"J'onn I have someone here saying their name is Rob, our informant and Creepy helper," Flash dared not take his eyes from the stranger as he made the call.
There was a quiet moment before J'onn answered, "bring our guest back with you Wally."
"Rodger that J'onn," Wally glared at the person before him, "J'onn asks that you accompany me back to HQ."
"I heard," the low voice sounded truly amused, "lead on Flash."
Wally muttered to himself as he led the weird one out of the bank and ready to transport.
Back at the Watch Tower a group had gathered; Batman, Wonder Woman, J'onn, Green Lantern, Hawkgirl and Superman. They had been summoned by J'onn to meet a guest, the mysterious detective that Commissioner Gordon recommended; whose name they had been enlightened to, was Rob (not a very heroic name). The small group of legendary hero's milled about and chatted while they waited for Wally and Rob to teleport in. A flash of light alerted them to the arrival of the expected duo.
Flash stepped off first, hunched over in a grumpy manner; he had labeled himself a babysitter. After Flash stepped the stranger, immediately the dark clad stranger got the attention of the other six original members.
At 7ft the stranger was already imposing, add to that a floor length trench coat with a tall collar (think French highwayman with another lighter material cloth underneath to hide the legs). The head wear only added to the mystery, a wide brimmed hat with a heavy veil hid face, neck and disappeared into the collar of the coat. Sleeves hid both hands, effectively hiding any and all traces of skin. "Sorry for all the secrecy," a low chuckle emanated from the black veiled face, "but I am sure some of you understand the need for such a cover."
None of the leaguers answered for a brief moment all taking in the large black clad stranger. "What have you found out…Rob?" Batman was not one to use a person's first name lightly; it was either last name or secret identity.
"That is also why I have come here in person," Rob shuffled almost in discomfort, a light clicking noise emanated from beneath the robes every leaguers gaze dropped to the location of the noise.
"Are you wearing high heels?" that absurd question from Flash got a chuckle and light giggles from some of the leaguers.
"I wish," the comment was so low that most of the assembled didn't hear it (except for those such as Superman and Batman with excellent hearing, natural or device oriented). "But no, I have come to the conclusion that the one responsible for these murders is none other than an old adversary of mine," a growl, almost non-human broke through the calm demeanor of Rob, startling some of the leaguers. "Pardon me."
"Who is this adversary you speak of?" Superman stepped forward to stand in front of the larger figure. The tilt of the hat and the bunching of the material gave proof that Rob was now looking at Superman.
"I speak of one without emotional conscience, one who kills to get what he wants," a hint of grief tinged Rob's voice, "and manipulates nature to get the results he wishes for." Rob took a few paces away from Superman and the rest of the leaguers, "this someone is called the Collector. His obsession started with a few rare species of animals, at first he would buy them for his private zoo; but then his obsession intensified." Rob turned to face the group once again, "he wanted to hunt, to feel the thrill of the kill and get the pelts of his victims as trophies.
He even moved up to mutating humans for the ultimate kills." The leaguers watched as a shudder rippled across the shoulders of the detective.
Batman's gaze bore into the veil of Rob, he knew that the stranger was hiding something; it might not have been important but it might have been.
"I believe that he is using these murders to draw me out," an ironic chuckle broke the sentence, "and it seems to be working."
"What clues makes you think that it's this Collector?" Wally stepped forward.
"That my good man is a good question," Rob looked down at the shorter man, "first the locations then the method of kills and how he leaves the victims. A zoo, museum at the Anubis exhibit, dog pound, and these places have animals and most definitely animal like qualities.
If you look closely you can also see that most have to do with canines, so he is most definitely looking for me."
"Why is he most definitely looking for you?" Wally once again spoke up.
A deep chuckle full of despair sent Wally a step back, "if you don't know by now then I am sure you shall find out sooner or later. No matter how hard I try to hide it." With that, Rob turned to Batman, "if you will, I think it is time we looked to see if we can find the next point he is to strike."
Hawkgirl sidled up to Superman after their strange guest left the room with batman, "Superman, did you get a look at who is underneath the trench coat?"
Superman shook his head in confusion, "no Hawkgirl, I couldn't, the whole outfit it lead lined." He frowned, "not many people think of that when they come to meet me, except Batman that is. He was one of the first to hide his identity successfully."
"Well what do you think Rob was trying to hide about his appearance?" Hawkgirl gripped her mace tighter, "if he was just trying to hide his identity, why not just hide his face like Batman?"
"I don't know Hawkgirl," Superman paced back towards his private quarters, "but like Rob said, sooner or later his identity will be known to us. So for the time being I say we believe him and wait for when he is ready."
"If you say so boy scout," With that Hawkgirl turned and followed the other leaguers as they moved their discussion onto the dining hall.