CHAPTER 15

REPORT OF: Wally West

CODE NAME: KID FLASH

Rob...sorry. Dick had told me about the batmobile and all the goodies that were loaded into it, but the SUV was no slouch. I could see why Batman was nervous about my driving it.

It was armored with bullet proof windows and a whole array of offensive buttons on the dashboard, from oil to smoke to water to what I think was a laser beam.

"Don't touch that!" Conner said. "I think that's the bat-ray."

I was just about to hit a green button on the dash, but stopped when Conner slapped my hand away. I yelled at him. "Hey, how do you know? It might just be the windshield wipers! And besides, Bats gave me the keys and not you!"

Conner, clearly holding onto his temper with both Kryptonian hands, said, "Superman has been telling me a few things about the bat-arsenal since I'm working for Batman while I'm on the team. He's got a bat-ray, infused with kryptonite. I'd...(gritted teeth) really like it if you didn't turn it on."

Kryptonite? I pulled my hand away. Why have a kryptonite infused ray, unless you plan on...Oh. "Sorry," I muttered. To change the subject, I turned to M'gann. "Anything?"

Her eyes were glowing and had gone all vague. She was concentrating so hard, I could even see her hold on her human shape wavering. The outline of her true Martian form was fading in and out like a halo. "No," she replied sadly. "Not yet. But I'll keep trying."

Superboy turned away from her and leaned back in his seat. "I wish I knew why he wanted me along with you two. I get that you're driving, you've got a license and Bats knows you better than me. And M'gann can actually find Robin." He stared out the window.

"We need you, Conner, because you're muscle and you're pretty much bullet proof," I said. I know it isn't easy growing up an incomplete copy of Superman. "Besides, we both need to protect M'gann while she's in trance. We don't know who or what took Dick."

"Yeah," Conner said, straightening a little. "Poor kid. He's had it rough lately."

"Wish we could help him," I said, remembering what Dick looked like when we rescued him from Two-Face. "Bats don't have it easy, do they? Robin's training is so tough, but he needs it just to survive in Gotham." I made a right turn and began to circle another quadrant on the grid we were driving. Glancing at M'gann, she was still in her trance. Nothing yet.

REPORT OF: ARTEMIS CROCK

CODENAME: ARTEMIS

Batman led me to a smaller computer work station off to one side. "This is Dick's station, where he operates as Phoenix. Do you have his passwords?"

"If I don't, I can figure them out," I said. "Don't worry, Batman. We'll find him." I logged in as Dick and was pleased to see it boot up immediately. "Okay, I'm in. Now send me everything you have."

What he had was a grainy, fifteen second piece of video showing two men dumping a heavy canvas bag into their van, then driving away. I could understand Batman's frustration. There were markings on the side of the van but the lighting was bad and it was illegible. I was worried about Dick and could see how scared Batman was, too. I focused on my task.

Batman had hacked a few video cameras along the van's route, losing it about a block away. Batman was good on computers, but Robin was better. And Rob had taught me. I went to the Metahack site he'd shown me and started looking. There! A bunch of Gotham CCTV cameras...I started looking for the same date and time of Dick's kidnapping. I was going to follow that van if it killed me.

I was working on that when the ransom demand call finally came in. A white-faced Alfred brought a phone to Batman.

"It is the kidnappers, sir. The police are listening on the upstairs extension. They believe that you are in your study and do not wish to be disturbed."

Batman pulled his cowl back and flashed Alfred a look. "Thank you for dealing with the police, Alfred. I don't want them at my elbow during this call." He looked over at me. "Artemis, run a trace. Second red button to the right."

I nodded and hit the button, which lit up and put on a set of headphones. "Okay, got it, Batman." I turned back to watch the call. Batman, cold and calculating, suddenly morphed into Bruce Wayne, worried father. The lines on his face got deeper and his eyes were sad instead of cold. He took a deep breath, then picked up the line.

"This is Wayne," he said crisply.

"You already know what this call is about," a rough voice said. "We got your kid and you gotta pay if you want him back. Ten mil, in non-sequential bills."

"It's yours," Bruce said, his knuckles white on the phone receiver. "But first I want proof that my son is unharmed. Put him on the phone."

There was a silence and a dragging sound, then we heard Robin...Dick's voice. "H'lo?"

"Dick, are you all right?" Bruce asked and leaned hard against the table, supported by an arm. He didn't sound like Batman anymore.

"I'm okay, but they're gonna kill me anyw..." Dick's voice cut off and the other one came back on the line.

"You satisfied?" the rough voice said.

"What have you done to him?" Bruce demanded.

"He's back in lock-down, so don't you worry. Worry about getting us the money. Batman is to deliver it to the old Doubleday Warehouse on Front Street, midnight tonight."

"That's not enough time," Bruce said. "And besides, I...I can't be sure of making contact with Batman."

"It'll have to be. Ask Batman what happened to his kid! The same'll happen to yours if the delivery isn't made on time." The line went dead. Bruce put down the phone and turned back to me, his face taut and eyes cold.

"How is the trace coming?" he asked.

I sighed. "It was a burner phone. I can give you the nearest cell tower, but that's it."

"It will have to do," Batman said and put through a call to Wally and the rest of the team. "Here are the coordinates for the general area where we think Dick is being held. Focus on it."

"And what will you be doing, Batman?" I asked as he pulled off his cape and cowl and began to walk away.

Bruce Wayne turned back, his face looking suddenly bare. "I need to get ten million in cash ready or Two-Face will finish what he started."

"Two-Face," I gasped, then realized what the delivery location actually meant. "Does he know? About Dick being Robin?"

"I don't know. I hope not," Batman said. "Dick's life depends on it."

PHOENIX'S JOURNAL

I woke up to the sound of pattering feet. "Who's there?"

"It's me," I felt Jason's fingers working at the knots that tied wrists together.

"What are you doing?" I started to wriggle my wrists in the suddenly loosening cord. "Why are you letting me loose? Aren't you working for the gang?"

"I quit," Jason hissed into my ear. "They are gonna kill you. I didn't think they killed kids. I don't think my dad knows, and if he did he'd quit too. I didn't like it when Dad gave up trying to get legit jobs and hired on with a gang. He's gonna go back to prison and I'll get left in foster care like I was last time. Maybe if I help you, it'll count for somethin'."

I felt my wrists freed from the rope and sat up while Jason untied my ankles. "What about your dad? Won't he get in trouble with the boss when they find out you let me go?"

"Yeah, well, they'll be too busy dealing with Batman to pay any attention to me. Hopefully they won't find out until Batman catches 'em." Jason grabbed my arm and pulled me upright. With his left arm around my waist he guided me through the dark warehouse towards the door.

"Batman?" I stopped dead. "Is Batman here?" If Batman were here, then I had nothing to worry about.

"Naw, he's supposed to deliver your ransom to the warehouse on Front Street in an hour. Everybody's gone there to get the cash off him. The Boss said that Batman had to deliver the money. Prob'ly because that's where the Boss killed off the Boy Wonder." Jason tugged at my arm. "C'mon, Dick! I gotta get you out now!"

"But my father is Bruce Wayne." I stayed standing right where I was. "Why what the Boss want Batman to deliver the money? And why that location, anyway?" I could feel the cold chills running up and down my spine. Who was this boss and how did he know about me? Please tell me that nobody knows I'm Robin, I prayed silently to myself.

"The Boss wants Batman to lose a second kid on his watch. Two-Face holds grudges a long time. Now will you come with me or not?" Jason tugged at me again, but I had gone still.

"The Boss is Two-Face?" I stuttered and fell silent. "We've got to get out of here." And I let Jason lead me out of the warehouse.

BATMAN'S JOURNAL

As the hour drew near, I donned my heaviest bat suit. If somehow Two-Face was going to meet me I wanted to be prepared.

"Batman, according to Blackgate's files, Two- Face is still in the prison population. I can show you a video," Artemis tapped a button and the screen showed two face sitting in his cell playing solitaire. I glanced at the screen.

"It doesn't matter Artemis. It might really be him or substitute he's put in place. Either he or his gang has my partner and he's in danger." I went to the weapons cabinet and began to load my utility belt. I heard a footstep and knew that Artemis stood next to me.

"You need backup," she said. "I may not be as good as Robin… was… But I can hold my own in a fight. Let me help." I heard a beep from the computer before I could turn her down. Artemis' automated job had completed and the film was now readable. We both read the wording on the side of the van.

"DoubleClean Janitorial Services..." I murmured, thinking hard. "It's in the area the team is searching." I activated my communicator. "Team, Dick's kidnappers have a safe house at 1022 22nd Street, he might be there now. Artemis and I will go to the Front Street location to make the ransom drop . Keep in touch."

I heard young voices whooping on the other end of the channel, then M'gann's calm voice came over the line. "Understood. We're on our way."

"Come on, Artemis," I said. "Into the batmobile!"