Author's Note: Here's another chapter. Yes it has been a long time, I've been very busy. I will add more depending on the reception to this instalment. Also I'm sorry about the formatting of the last few chapters, the breaks between scenes aren't showing up properly, but I'm hoping it will change this time.
P.S: there may be a change in tense I write in here, I'm adapting to fit the work, so bear with it please.
Chapter 5.
"Zsasz turned up this morning. Someone beat him half to death. He's in Gotham General right now."
"Where?"
"The docks, shipping wharf. There was a vic nearby – Zsasz's own work – his M.O all over, plus he had a fresh tally mark." Gordon sighed, just seven hours back from Arkham, and the city was already testing him.
"So Zsasz claims his victim, and then gets jumped while he's distracted by the fresh kill. This third party takes him out." Batman stood on the GCPD roof, brow furrowed beneath his cowl, "Finger-prints? Any evidence left by the attacker?"
"There should have been, but the paramedics got all over the scene – any evidence will be contaminated. I'll have the lab techs look into it, but to be honest with you I don't think anyone in the department will be eager to chase down someone who's attacked Zsasz." Gordon pulled off his glasses, rubbed the lenses on his coat collar – an old habit drawn out again by the intense stress that had followed him back from Arkham.
A quiet, they both know the truth in Gordon's words.
As usual, Gordon breaks the silence.
"You know, I remember the last time this happened – a mass break out. That was Bane's work," he cleared his throat, uneasy, "We need to find out who's behind this – take out the source before you end up running a gauntlet that runs you ragged. What about Nashton? We should work on tracking him down."
"Bane's long gone. And I'm not looking for the Riddler."
"What?" Gordon scowls – and the stress and anger bubbles to the surface, directing at the Batman, because he's damned if he's going to play this his way.
He opens his mouth, ready to shout his comrade down, but when the dark knight speaks it's with an unnerving insistence.
"Hush is the priority."
Now Gordon barely keeps his cool.
"Hush? How the hell do you figure that?" he snaps, "Hush will go to ground – that what he does! When he makes his move it won't be directed at Gotham, and you'll handle it then! The Riddler, on the other hand will be diving straight back into murder, robbery – whatever the hell takes his fancy – for all we know he could be the mastermind here. And what about the Joker? Crane? Isley? Is Hush's grudge against you more important than the chaos they could cause?"
A pause. He's gone too far. He's too tired. This situation is impossible. But he can't have Nashton running riot in his city, can't have the Joker causing chaos, or Two-Face rebuilding a crime empire.
"Jim."
"Look, I-"
"Jim, you can't understand. But I need you to trust me. Hush is capable of more damage than you could ever know, and it has to be me that deals with him, and it has to be now. I need you to run the streets until I'm done with Hush. But I have Nightwing handling the Riddler. I won't let Gotham fall."
There's something in Batman's voice that stops Gordon. Not what he's saying, it's the way he's saying it. There's the most subtle inflection of pain there – a break in the mask that chills Gordon.
"Alright then. Fine. That's, that's – right." He clears his throat again, "There is something though, first – we need your help with Otis Flannegan, the-"
"Ratchatcher." In control again, all business, the Bat is in control again.
"Yes, he knows something, we're sure. But we can't crack him. He's playing cool, but something – likely someone – has him scared quiet. We have him down below and Bullock is working him, but..."
The Batman is already walking, sweeping over to the stairs leading to the GCPD's interior. Gordon sighs heavily, rubs at his glasses again, then follows him inside.