Sorry this chapter is short. I'm having a lot of trouble with carpal tunnel and am fighting with Dragon software. But I do want to keep with my weekly deadline, so here is this week's chapter.
CHAPTER 16
PHOENIX'S JOURNAL
Jason led me through what felt like miles and miles of hallway until we stopped.
"Dammit!" Jason said. "They've chained and bolted the doors." I could feel him twisting as he looked around for options. "This way," he said.
We ran down more hallways and stopped. Jason motioned for me to kneel down. He whispered in my ear, "they left me and Jake behind to guard you. Jake is in the main room between us and the door. We gotta find a way around him or we're sunk."
I knelt beside him, thinking frantically. If only I were still Robin I could take that guy out and rescue us both. I would have pounded the floor in frustration, except it would have alerted Jake our position. I had to come up with something.
REPORT OF: ARTEMIS CROCK
CODENAME: ARTEMIS
I had never been in the Batmobile before that day and I'm still amazed. I mean, I was sitting in Robin's seat, facing a big panel full of gadgets most of which I didn't understand.
"Buckle up," Batman said. "You will need it."
The car was already facing the exit, but I wasn't ready when Batman floored the gas. I was pushed back to the seat about two inches as the car took off like a rocket.
I could see what Robin had been talking about when he said that the Batmobile was fast. I hung onto the dashboard while the car took the curves at a hundred miles per hour or better... I saw Batman, looking grim, with steering wheel at arms' length, gripping it tightly.
"So, do we have the money?" I asked, trying to catch my breath.
"In the trunk," Batman said. "Some of it, anyway. An armored truck will meet us there."
"Are you really going to pay Two-Face?" I'd never really thought of Batman as a father. I've worked with him for years and he's always been The Bat, Dick's partner, our Boss. Now? He was different, his carefully-hidden feelings were exposed.
We stopped at the warehouse on Front Street. It looked dark and quiet. The armored truck was parked across the street. The driver had clearly left.
"You take the rear," Batman growled. "I'll go in the main door."
"All right," I said, and grabbed my quiver, shrugging it over my shoulder. I watched Batman flit to the entrance and slip inside. I ran to the back, finding the doors locked. I smiled. Robin had been teaching me to pick locks and this one looked pretty simple. Two minutes with my lock picks and I was inside.
PHOENIX'S JOURNAL
"Jay," I whispered. "Cut the lights."
"Why? I can't fight him in the dark," Jason replied.
"You can't," I said, remembering all those lessons with Batman. "But maybe I can." I didn't hear Jason move, so I nudged him with my arm. "Trust me."
"Okay," he finally hissed back and moved away. Seconds later, there was a loud click and the sound of Jake cussing.
"Damn it, the lights are gone," Jake said. "I bet it's that breaker again!" I heard the crash of furniture falling over as Jake tried to make his way to the breaker box.
This was going to be fun! I cracked my knuckles and dove towards where the voice was loudest. Jake didn't have a chance. He didn't know that anyone else was there, and he didn't have my training. Shooting fish in a barrel.
"Hey! What the...Who is that?" Jake grunted as I punched him in the gut, then followed by sweeping his feet out from under him. The air puffed out of him with a whoosh as he hit the floor. I had him in a headlock when the lights clicked on again.
"Wow. Where'd you learn that?" Jason asked from somewhere near my elbow. "I've got the ropes they tied you with."
I held out my hand. "Let me. I learned good knots sailing with Bruce." I had Jake trussed up quickly, feeling proud and capable for the first time in months. "Let's get out of here."
We almost made it out the door when strong hands grabbed us both.
"Dad!" Jay cried out. "I thought you went to the meet!"
"I came back because the Boss wants the kid. Good thing I did," he growled. "What did you do to Jake?" The hands shook us both. "Dontcha know what Two-Face'll do to the both of us if he finds out about this?"
"Doesn't matter," Jay said in a strong voice, but both his Dad and I could feel him shaking. "Dickiebird is my friend and I don't betray my friends."
"You never had a friend in your life," Todd snarled. "Or I woulda known about it."
"No thanks ta you," Jason replied. "Let me go!"
"Naw, you're both goin' with me. You, I gotta keep my eye on you or you'll get us both killed! And the kid!" A big hand gripped me by the scruff of the neck like a kitten and lifted me bodily. I started to struggle, then felt a hard blow to the side of my face.
"Quitcher struggling, brat!" he growled. "You bin enuff trouble ta me. Cooperate or you die sooner. And you, Jason. Listen up! You're comin' too. G'wan!" I heard a loud slap and a grunt from Jason, then we were out the door and on the way to the warehouse.
BATMAN'S JOURNAL
At the stroke of midnight, I walked into that warehouse. The lights had been left on, no surprise. I still had nightmares about that night. Of course, I never told Dick about them; he had bad dreams of his own.
With each deliberate step I took, I remembered the years I'd had with my boy. First, adopting a frightened orphan, then molding him into the confident young partner he became. My foot crunched something underneath. I bent and picked up a twisted piece of metal; the buckle from Robin's utility belt. I held it in the palm of my hand, gently cupping it and remembering that night. Harvey's kick had broken the clasp and the belt had flown off my boy. I closed my hand tightly over it.
"So, did you bring the money?" A harsh voice echoed in the dark recesses. I knew him. They'd somehow gotten him out of prison, then. Harvey Dent, aka Two-Face.
"I have it," I said. "Where is the boy?" As my voice echoed through the room, I hoped, oh how I hoped that the team had gotten to him first. But it was not to be. Two-Face stepped from the shadows, dragging Dick Grayson by one arm.