Broken Trust: Little Bird Lost

By

AJ

Part 4: I Am Madness

An unmarked car, its license plates covered in grime to hide the numbers drove onto the Wayne property. The car pulled into the circular drive, its passenger positioned so he could be seen. A second passenger hidden from view made sure the first was secure. The driver got out and knocked on the door of Wayne Manor.

"When someone comes to the door, get their attention. I want to make sure someone sees you."

Alfred emerged to suddenly have a note shoved in front of him. He heard a noise and looked up to see Dick Grayson in an old muddy looking car with a gag in his mouth and a pleading look on his face.

"Oh my, Master Richard!"

Bruce heard Alfred's exclamation. "Alfred, what is it?"

"In that car!" Alfred pointed as the car drove away. "Master Richard, he . . . " Alfred handed Bruce the note.

"Don't call the police or Batman.

Dick Grayson will die if you do.

He's my little flier to do with what I want.

My father's empire will rise again.

You will here from me again.

I Am Madness."

"Bruce, what is the matter, why aren't you getting the car," Aunt Harriet spotted the note and snatched it out of Bruce's hand. "That gangster! He can't do that to my nephew. I don't care if he doesn't want you to call the police. Bruce you need to contact Batman."

Bruce didn't answer her. His face had a look of rage. The name on the bottom of the note was burned into his memory. A friend from Japan had told him the meaning of his name and he remembered it because it was so much like anothers.

"I Am Madness," the note said. All he had to do was replace one word and everything became a little clearer. He had a family, the card said. And now a member of that family came back to haunt him and to take vengeance on Dick. That person may have called himself madness, but Bruce knew. It was as glaring as if the sun had struck him in the face. "I am Madness was I am Zuko." Zuko, the Japanese version of the name Zucco.

Dick watches with dismay as he is driven away from his home. Why didn't he try to persuade Bruce with what he found? Why did he have to search for Prudence Malone only to be trapped by her and her son, Matthew. No, Zucco's son. He was the spitting image of Tony Zucco, the man who had his parents killed.

Dick struggled against the bonds that held him. Now he was getting angry. Matthew slammed him back against the seat.

"Stop squirming kid. You're with me . . . for now. My next move will get me the largest payoff in history. You and your guardian can't stop me."

'Your father had my parents killed,' Dick thought angrily in his head. He wanted to voice it but the gag wouldn't let him and it was getting harder to breath properly with the gag in his mouth.

"We're going to need to ditch this car," Matthew Malone said to his mother.

'Did that include dumping me?' Dick thought as a shudder ran through him.

"I made sure we had another means of transportation," Prudence Malone stated.

Dick watched as they pulled up to a white unmarked van. He watched as Prudence opened the door to the car, got out, and crossed to the van and opened the back doors. Then he felt Matthew loosen the ropes that tied him to the seat. His hands were tied behind his back before they shoved him in this clunker of a car. He knew it had to be stolen since the plates were covered in mud and grime. The car would be hard to trace. Dick was bodily lifted from the car and thrown over Matthew's shoulder. Then he was tossed hard into the back of the van. Dick tried to kick out, but was not in a position to be effective. For Dick's defiance, he received a swift kick to the ribs. Then Matthew bent down and pulled a syringe.

"This will keep you quiet," Matthew said than plunged the needle into Dick's arm without mercy.

The drug was soon taking effect. Dick slipped into a world of nightmares more powerful than he ever remembered. He could barely hear Matthew's words as the van pulled away and headed back the Gotham City.

"I have such plans for you. Killing would be too easy. If Wayne wants you back, he's going to have to pay. And every day he refuses, you get another shot of my juice."

Dick tried to focus, but the drug did its work too well. Matthew's face so much like his father's became Tony Zucco in Dick's mind. He relived the moment of his parent's deaths.

"NOOO!" Dick cried out, despite the gag that tried to muffle his screams. "Mom! Dad!" Tears fell in rivulets down his face, and he too felt himself falling. This time he cried for another "Bruce!" but Bruce wasn't there to catch him and in the end, he succumbed to the darkness, falling deeper into oblivion.

Continues with Part 5: Grayson's Grave Peril