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Don't screw your life up… Because you only live once- Ethen Winters.
I yawned and rubbed my face. I have been staring at the paperwork on my desk for the past hour. "Glaring at it won't make it all go away. Believe me, I've tried it." Commissioner Gordon's voice came from behind me.
The paperwork was the massive break-out two weeks ago. So much paperwork… I stopped glaring at it and growled at it.
"How about I go and get some take-away for us. I fear it's going to be a long night." Gordon suggested. My stomach growled. I didn't realise I was that hungry.
"Sounds good." I replied with a smile.
Gordon got Chinese and we sat in his office. "How is Samantha Wells doing?" Samantha Wells is a woman the Justice League saved from Penguin's thugs. Samantha can't talk so she uses telepathy and sign language to communicate. And she can move objects with her mind. She has been staying at my father's house where Logan has been watching over her.
"She's doing great. She and Raine went shopping earlier today, they had a ball. And she's great with Ryan." I replied. Sam plays video games with him and lets him win every now and then.
We talked for ages, until we had to get the paperwork done. When I finally finished the paperwork, I said goodnight to Gordon and went home.
My head barely hit my pillow when I got a phone call… "Yes?" I answered.
"A body has been found behind the courthouse. Meet me there." Gordon's equally tired voice said.
"On my way."
When I got there Gordon and the M.E. were already there. Gordon looked up when I closed my car door behind me. A Uniformed officer gave me a pair of gloves. "Thanks." I said as I walked up to the scene.
"Female, late sixties, white, no ID. Shot three times, once in the back and then the back of the head and once in the face blowing the face completely off... We will need DNA to find out who she is." Gordon explained when I stood next to him. The victim was in her nightgown, her slippers were still on her feet.
"Well she either went out for a midnight stroll, or she was running from something." A uniformed officer said.
I looked around the body and saw that there were no buddles of blood around the victim. "She wasn't shot here. She was dumbed here." I said.
"Huh?" Asked the uniformed officer.
"No blood around the victim." I stated. Just then another uniformed officer jumped out of the rubbish bin.
"I found a purse…" She announced holding up the object. I helped him out and took the purse.
"Thank you, sir." She whispered.
"Go home Reeves, you have been on duty all day, go home and get some rest." Gordon ordered the female officer.
"I think I might have a shower before I go home." I heard her whisper, as she sniffed herself.
I opened the purse and found a driver's licence. It belongs to the victim. "Oh Shit… Sir, you better come and have a look at this…"
Gordon came over and I handed him the Licence. "Oh shit." The woman is the wife of a judge. Her name is Julia Reeves. Her daughter is a cop.
"Sir, what is her daughter's name?" I asked, not remembering the officer.
"Amy Reeves, the officer I just sent home. Damn it." Gordon was angry at himself.
"Sir, you didn't know who the victim is, her face is damaged beyond recognition …" I tried to comfort him.
"I know… But still… Go after her. I'll go and Judge Reeves." I nodded and climbed in to my car. I made it back to the office and found Reeves putting her Jacket on, getting ready to go home.
"Reeves." I announced my presence. Reeves turned around and smiled at me. When I didn't smile back her smile faulted.
"What is it sir?" She asked concern.
"The purse you found…." I started to say. It's never easy telling someone that their loved one is gone…
"Yes?"
"I found the victim's ID in it." I closed my eyes. Lord, give me strength. I prayed.
"Who is she?" Reeves asked in confusion.
"I'm so sorry Amy…" I handed her the ID and she took it and looked at it. And a second later she screamed and collapsed on to the floor.
"NO, NO, NO, NO." She screamed repeatedly over and over. I sat down next to her and pulled her in to my arms. I rocked her back and forth.
After a while she calmed down and we went in to Commissioner's office and sat on the couch.
"Are you up to answering some questions?" I asked her gently. She nodded. But before I could ask a question some stepped out of the shadows, making us both jump.
"Really Batman? I think you do that for fun." I snapped. I really don't like it when people sneaking up on me.
"My mum and dad have separated. They been for about a year now. They have been doing nothing but fighting. Luckily mum left before it got physical. She started using her maiden name." Amy said ignoring Batman.
"Did she have any enemies?" I asked and Amy shook her head.
"No, but Dad and I do. But that comes with the job…" Amy sniffed and whipped her nose with the tissue.
"Where's dad?" Someone needs to tell him." She said frantically.
"The Commissioner is with him now." I said, as I rubbed her arms gently. I turned to Batman and raised my eyebrows in question. I knew he had been listening to the police radios.
"I was searching the area where she was found and discovered the weapon." He said in his usual scratchy voice.
Amy started to cry again. Just then Commissioner came in. He bent down in front of Amy and asked rubbing her knees. "Are you alright?" He asked in a whisper.
"How's my dad?" She asked.
"Your Uncle is with him. Do you want to go to your father?"
Amy shook her head. "I can't go back there…"
"Barbara is waiting outside, you can stay with her if you like…" Gordon offered.
Amy nodded and stood up. I kept my arms around her shoulders as I led her to Gordon's daughter Barbara, aka Batgirl.
"Come on Amy." Barbara whispered wrapping her arms around her and Amy burst out crying again.
"Take my car." I gave Barbara my keys.
"Thank you."
"I'll drop by later." I added and Amy nodded.
As soon as Amy and Barbara were gone I went back to Gordon's office. "What did Judge Reeves had to say?" I asked Gordon.
"He wasn't up for talking. He was really upset… he was crying. He didn't do it. He's not that kind of man. He was in the middle of a divorce but he still loved her. I also know that he was in court." Gordon spoke on the Judge's behalf.
"He might have loved her enough he didn't want her to go and so he thought that if he couldn't have her no one else can. So, he has her killed." I suggested.
"Yes, a lot of the murderers are the victims spouse… And the usual reason is jealousy. But I don't think he did it. He knew it would also kill their daughter." Gordon said.
"I found the gun that killed the victim." Batman announced. Oh yeah, the gun.
"Can I have the gun to get it analysed?" I asked Batman. Batman took the gun out and handed it to me. The gun was in a plastic bag, to protect any evidence.
Gordon took it to examine it. Gordon is an excellent shooter, he rarely misses his target… Gordon and I go to the target range sometimes to practice. I was surprised to hear him say that he taught Barbara how to shoot. "Just in case she needs to defend herself." He said.
"Yes, this is the weapon." Gordon said and handed it to me.
"Uniform is going around to neighbours of the victim's apartment and the Judge's neighbourhood asking everyone if they have seen or heard everything. I'm going to trace the victim's last moments… Winter's I want you to go home and get some sleep."
"What about you Commissioner? You're nearly dead on your feet." I commented.
"I have a couch in my office." Gordon shrugged off my concern. Too tried to argue with him I just said.
"Night sir."
"Night Ethen. Batman."
"Commissioner." Batman went back out the window.
I walked to Barbara's apartment. I knew where she lives because I had picked Gordon up from there a couple of times.
Barbara let me in with a sad smile. "How is she?" I asked.
"She cried herself to sleep." Barbara replied. "Coffee?" She offered. I shook my head.
"No thank you, I just want to check on her and then head home for some sleep." I replied.
"Good idea, you look like your about to fall to sleep on your feet." She commented.
"I tried to convince your father to go home as well, but I was too tired to argue with him." I chuckled.
"He is very stubborn, he won't sleep until he has caught the killer." Barbara shook her head.
I checked on Amy and saw her asleep on the couch. I noticed Batman on the fire escape. "Barbara, you have a visitor." I called out.
Barbara came in to see a dark figure on the fire escape. "Come in Bruce." She sighed. "I'll be going. I'll drop in on the way to work." I said. Barbara nodded and gave me back my keys.
I didn't drive home, I drove all the way to Wayne Manor. I needed my little sister. Raine might be married to a billionaire-sorry, multi-billionaire, and they might have children, but she will always be my baby sister, and I will always protect her…
It's a brother's job to protect his sister. It doesn't matter if she can look after herself, or if she has a husband… It's an instinct.
I got to Wayne Manor and Alfred was at the door. Does that man ever sleep? I ask myself.
"Evening Alfred." I greeted the British butler.
"Master Winters. Mrs Wayne is waiting for you in the kitchen, there is a fresh pot of coffee waiting." Alfred announced.
"Do you ever sleep?" I wondered.
"Not when he's out there." Alfred replied. Not when Bruce is out there patrolling is what he means.
I found Raine in the kitchen with a hot mug in her hands. "How is Amy coping?" Raine asked in concern.
"She was asleep when I checked up on her. Barbara said that she cried herself to sleep." I replied.
"Find the bastard who did this." Raine only swears she is beyond angry.
"Don't worry I will." I said and then I went over to her and pulled her in to a hug.
"I love you little sister." I whispered in her hair. Raine wrapped her arms around my waist and nuzzled my chest, like she did when she was little.
"Love you too brother." She whispered.
The next day I walked in to the office just in time to hear Commissioner Gordon's speech. "Victim's name is Julia Reeves, former wife of Judge Gareth Reeves and mother of Officer Amy Reeves. Mrs Reeves was shot three times, once in the back, and twice in the face. Mrs Reeves is beyond recognition, but DNA confirmed that it is Julia Reeves. I want uniformed officers going to Mrs Reeve's apartment building and ask the other residence if they saw or heard anything and also go and have another look around. Any questions?"
"Is Amy alright?" Bullock asked.
"As well as she can be. I spoke to Barbara and she said that Amy has had something to eat and then went back to sleep."
"I'm going back to see if she up for asking more questions." I said gently. Gordon nodded his head.
"Okay everyone, that is all. Get to work on finding the son of a bitch who did this." Gordon ordered and then went back to his office.
"Winters, is Batman working on the case?" I turned to see a uniformed officer asked, it is Amy's partner.
"What do you think?" I asked raising my eyebrows.
"Good, I want to catch the bastard who did this."
"Do you want to come with me to see Amy?" I asked him and he nodded eagerly. I chucked my keys at him.
"You can drive." I said. As we drove to the streets of Gotham I heard Jase's voice in my head;
"Hey twin… Dinner tonight… you, me, Logan, Dad, Uncle Ian, Raine and Ryan, Dad's place, six thirty. Don't be late."
"Okay."
When we got there Barbara opened the door. "Hey Barb." Amy's partner greeted her.
"Hi Tony, hi Ethan, come on in." We followed her in to the living room where Amy was sitting curled up in a ball, wrapped in a blanket.
"Amy." Tony raced over to her and wrapped his arms around her. Amy didn't cry, she just leaned against him.
"Amy, can I ask you some question?" I asked gently. Amy nodded in reply.
"Did you receive any threats from anyone recently who threatened to harm your family?" I asked her.
"A couple, but they were all bluff. One was knifed by another inmate, he died at the scene. And the other committed suicide before he was due in court." Amy replied.
"Did your mother get into a disagreement with a neighbour or a family member?" I then asked. I know that question sounds stupid
Amy frowned in thought. "Not that I know of." She said after a little while.
"Do you think that it could be a family member?" She asked after a minute of thought.
"I hope not, but it might be a possibility." I replied in all honesty. In most murder cases, the crime is committed by a family member, which makes it even more horrific.
"Hey, I'm having dinner later with my family tonight, why don't you join us. It just might be what you need…" I suggested.
Amy looked unsure. "Go on Amy, it will do you good to go out." Barbara tried to encourage her.
"Okay, I'll come." Amy said after a minute of thought.
"I'll come and get you around five thirty."
Next I dropped Amy to her father's house and the tears started all over again. Father and daughter hugged and cried all over again.
"Will you be alright here?" I asked her and Amy nodded.
I turned to Tony and said, "Stay here with them." Tony nodded and gave me my keys.
I went to Julia's apartment and the forensics were there going over the apartment, looking for clues.
"What have we got so far?" I asked a sergeant.
"There are fingerprints on the glasses near the sink. Victim's blood is everywhere in the bathroom. It also looks like she had intercourse the night before." The sergeant replied.
"I also found the victim's phone." The sergeant added holding up the phone that was in a clear back.
I nodded and went upstairs to see the bathroom and the bathroom was a blood bath. There wasn't a tile that wasn't covered in blood.
"There is a lot of blood for three bullet wounds." I stated.
"Oh, this is animal blood. Julia's two dogs were also killed, they were found here in the bathroom. The third dog is in the vet with bullet room to the side." The sergeant stated.
"What breed of dog?" I asked.
"Two Labs and the German shepherd is in the vet recovering from surgery."
"I want that bullet." I said.
"It's in the lap right now being compared to the other bullets right now. Neighbours heard someone knocking at the door, and then Julia greeting the person and then screaming and the dogs barking and growling."
I was angry at the killer, not just because they killed an innocent woman but also killing two innocent dog for protecting their owner.
My family dogs are German shepherd mixes, and they are very protective of the whole family.
I could see where Julia was shot because of the blood; a large amount of blood was near the sink.
"They didn't even bother to try and clean up..." The sergeant.
"I think that they were worried about what to do with the Julia's body after shooting her and getting away. He managed to get her out on to the street with no one noticing."
"Let me know when you have something." I said and left.
I went to the scene where the body was discovered and the alley where Julia's purse was. "Excuse me." I jumped at the voice. I turned to see a young woman looking very scared.
"Can I help you?" I asked in a gentle voice.
"Mrs Rivers had a boyfriend... She introduced him to me. He acted nice and friendly, but something felt a bit off about him."
"Do you remember the name?" I asked the woman.
"Randolph Swellings." The woman said.
"What was off about him?"
"All that friendly and kindness act was just that... an act. I heard them fighting over her seeing her ex-husband. He sounded real jealous." The woman replied.
"And he was jealous over Julia's relationship with her daughter..." The woman added.
"Thank you..."
"Anita, I live in the apartment opposite of Julia's. Julia was kind, loving person. She didn't even hesitate helping anyone who needed help."
"Thank you Anita that information will help."
"Is the daughter alright?" Anita asked in deep concern.
"She's doing alright considering, she is mentally and physically weak at the moment." I replied with a sad smile.
When I got back to my car I went back to Judge Reeves' apartment, on the way I made a call to the Commissioner.
"Winters." Gordon answered.
"Randolph Swellings... A neighbour says that's the name of Julia's boyfriend. Apparently he has a jealous streak." I explained to him.
I could hear typing on his end of the line. "Found him. Number thirteen fourteen Quinn St. I'll find him. He's the only lead we have." Judge Reeves has a solid alibi, he was in court. His brother was out of the city at the time and neither of them never really had a reason to kill Julia. Despite the divorce Julia and John got a long, they were still friends.
I hung up just as I reached Judge Reeves' apartment. Tony let me in. "Go back to the office; the Commissioner might need back up." I instructed. Tony nodded and left.
I found Amy in the living room with her head in her father's lap.
"Amy, do you remember a Randolph Swellings?" I asked her.
"Yeah, he was mum's boyfriend... I got the feeling he didn't like me much, and not because I am a cop." Amy replied.
"Do you think he could have done this...? Someone pointed out that he was a very jealous person."
"He and Mum had only been dating a couple of months when the fights began." Amy said. "It looked like he was going to explode. He wanted mum all to himself. He didn't want me around at all."
I nodded and smiled and squeezed her hand. "Gordon is picking him up now... I better go and get more back up."
"Be careful." Judge Reeves said.
"I'll try." I replied to him with a smile.
"I'll keep you informed." I said as I left.
As I walked back to my car I saw Batman leaning against it. I didn't question it. I just said. "Randolph Swellings, Thirteen fourteen Quinn St. Gordon meeting me there." Just as I told him that my phone rang.
"Winter." I answered.
"Blood samples came from the victim, the dogs, and the killer... We have a match on the forth blood sample. It belongs to Swellings. The vet said that the German shepherd had blood on his teeth from when he bit Swellings. The dog will make it. And the DNA on the bed also belongs to Swellings." Gordon said.
"We've got him." I whispered. I nodded at Batman who nodded back and used his grappling hook to leap on to the roof of the apartment building.
"As I live and breathe... I can't believe that was Batman." Judge Reeves whispered.
I sped through the city of Gotham and when I nearly reached the street I slowed down. I met up with Tony and Gordon in an alley.
"He's inside and doesn't know we're here." Gordon announced.
"Batman is here to." I announced.
Tony clapped and rubbed his hands together in excitement. "I get to see Batman in action."
"Trust me, you don't want to see it." I muttered... Speaking of the bat. Batman landed right behind Tony, making the man jump.
"I have an idea... Commissioner, Tony and myself and a few uniforms will go up to his door and if he tries to escape through the back, Batman will be waiting for him." Everyone agreed to my plan.
Batman once again disappeared up on to the rooftops. Gordon, Tony and I went up to the front door. Tony and I had our hands on our guns just in case. Gordon look at me and Tony to see if we were ready and then he knocked on the door.
Swellings answered the door and when He saw Commissioner Gordon his eyes widened in fear and recognition, as I predicted he ran out the back and a moment later there was an "Oh shit."
The three of us ran through the house and saw Batman and swelling fighting. Swellings is a former marine and he was trained to fight. But Batman was better. Batman blocked all his kicks and punches.
With one last effort to knock Batman out, he tried to throw a punch aiming for Batman's jaw. But Batman caught the fist and squeezed it hard, making swellings scream in pain. Batman looked bored and angry.
I threw my cuffs to Batman who cuffed swellings and led him back to us. "Randolph swellings, you are under arrest on the suspicion of murdering Julia Reeves, you have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney, if you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you." I gave him his rights as Batman led him outside.
Batman pressed a button on his arm and a minute later the Batmobile came in to view. "I'll take him to the GCPD, so he can't do anything." Batman said and loaded Swellings in to the car.
True to his word, Batman dragged a screaming Swelling in to an interview room. When he settled down and his lawyer arrived Gordon and I asked him questions.
"I didn't kill her." Was the first thing he said.
"Your blood was in the bathroom of her apartment, and on her German shepherd's teeth from where he bit you pretty hard." I saw the bite mark on his arms.
"That dog didn't like me, he bit me last week..." Swelling explained. I turned to Batman who grabbed his arm.
"Hey, you can't grab my client like that." The lawyer exclaimed. All he got was a glare and that was enough to shut him up.
"The bite looks to be a couple days old." Batman said.
"And someone heard dogs growling at the night of the murder." I went on.
When he didn't say anything, I leaned forward. "You are jealous of the friendship between Julia and her ex-husband. And you were jealous of the relationship between Julia and her daughter. You are a very jealous man... Here's what I think... I think she realised that she still loved her ex-husband and wanted to get back together with him, and she also realised that you hated Amy when you wanted her to cut Amy out of her life.
"But Amy always came first to Julia. She dumped you, threw you out of the apartment... You went back after a few drinks at the pub and then went back with the intention to apologise... at least that's what you told her to get her to let you back inside. But you didn't go back to apologise... you went back to kill her... you shot her in the back, paralysing her and then shot her in the face twice. Then her dogs came to defend her. You shot the dogs as they came charging towards you..."
"Alright, alright, alright. I killed her. If I couldn't have her, then nobody else can. She ruined me. She told her friends about me, mean things that weren't true. People were pointing at me, whispering about me behind my back. She ruined my life."
After arresting Swellings and putting him a cell, I went back to Judge Reeve's apartment and told Amy everything. I held Amy as she cried.
"We got him Amy. We got him." I whispered in her hair.
After she settled down I invited Judge Reeves to my family home for dinner. At five thirty I drove to the house and introduced them to everyone. And to Cloudy and Misty who waited patiently for me to greet them, they sat there with their tails wagging like mad.
"Come here, you over grown pups." I opened my arms out and they came running to me. Cloudy greeted Amy.
"Well behaved dogs... What breed are they?" Amy asked as she patted Cloudy.
"Siberian Husky cross German shepherd." I replied. "That's Cloudy you have there and this is Misty. They are really Ryan's dogs but they are really family dogs." I added.
It was a fun night. We ate and then went in to the living room for a couple of drinks where we toasted in Julia's honour. Then I dropped Amy and her father off back to their apartment. Judge Reeves thanked me for the invitation and went inside.
I walked Amy to the door. "Thank you for everything." She said with a smile.
"Anytime." I replied with a smile. Amy blushes and looks down at her feet. I lifted her face up with my fingers under her chin.
"I mean it any time." I said in all honesty. To be honest I've always liked Amy, she is beautiful, intelligent, kind and very good at her job.
"Amy, look at me." I asked her. Her eyes slowly drifted to mine.
"I like you... I always have. Since the day I met you..." I admitted.
"I like you too." She said with a smile. I grinned and bent down and captured her lips with mine. She wrapped her arms around my neck and returned the kisses. I wrapped my arms around her waist.
After a little while we pulled back for air. "Have dinner with me tomorrow night?" I asked her when I got my breath back.
"Like a date?" she asked with a smile.
"A date. I'll pick you up at six."
"Okay." She replied and I kissed her quickly goodbye and then got back in to my car and sped back to my family.
I couldn't wipe the silly off my face. My brothers and Raine teased me about it. But I didn't care...
There is Ethan. I hope you liked it.
Next up is Jase.
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