The Detective Prince

Chapter 123

A Set Plan

He scanned his eyes over the results that could be seen, leaning back in the chair as he spoke out.

"Drellesters and Daily Mech's," Bruce read. "This is the common ground between the victims."

"We'll start with the first," Heiji said. "What is Drellesters?"

"A food market," Tim replied. "There are six in all located here in Gotham."

"What about Daily Mech's?"

"I'm not too sure about that one," Tim replied. "I've only heard mention of it once about a year ago."

"Equipment," Bruce stated. "Equipment for exercising purposes."

"You mean like the same kind of equipment you'd find in a gym?" Heiji asked.

"Yes," Bruce confirmed. "There was an ad in the paper about their services about a month back that I came across."

"So we have a grocery store and a company who sells equipment for strengthening," Heiji said. "If there is an area to investigate I think we'd all agree the grocery store is the likelier suspect."

"It would seem to be that way," Tim agreed. "With the recorded amount of heart attacks the grocery store would appear to be what we should be focusing on."

"If that is so, then what," Heiji questioned. "Is there something being distributed from their company that is causing this uproar?"

"Before getting into any analogies we'll first need to see how viable any of these sources might be," Bruce said. "Let's not forget how large the scale runs in this case."

"He's right," Tim said. "This isn't just a situation in this area."

"What do you plan to do next?" Heiji asked looking his way.

"The first step will be to find all links between each of these companies," Bruce replied. "This will give us a better idea of how widespread each are in comparison to where the heart attacks have been reported."

"Simplest way to approach this." Tim commented.

"I would agree," Bruce said. "And if you don't mind this is something I'd like for you to handle."

"And here I thought you'd want to look into that yourself."

"My focus will strictly be on the cause," Bruce said in response. "That's still our biggest concern at this point."

"So according to the scan all those in the report visited Drellesters and purchased merchandise from Daily Mach's correct?" Heiji asked.

"Not all," Bruce replied. "Only eighty six percent."

"And what of Daily Mech's?"

"Just over sixty seven percent."

"Definitely a difference in the percentage between the two," Heiji said. "If there truly is something to find Drellesters seems to be the more likely location."

"I can understand the grocery store, but why Daily Mech's," Tim questioned. "Surely interest for gym equipment can't be that high."

"That's not the only thing Daily Mech's is known for." Bruce stated.

"It isn't?"

"No," Bruce replied. "Though that is what they've profited most off of."

"What else is it that they have to offer?"

"Besides shopping off equipment, they have twenty eight gyms that they have built," Bruce informed. "Gym's which tend to draw large crowds, their services have been well noted."

"That answers some questions," Heiji said. "How many of those twenty eight are located in Gotham?"

"Only one," Bruce replied. "I couldn't tell you where the others are located off the top of my head."

"That should take little time for me to find out once I launch a search." Tim said.

"So Daily Mech's has gyms that they've set up, anything else we should know?"

"Nothing more than that they're directly linked with Unbey Hospital's," Bruce replied. "This came into play at the end of last year."

"I wonder if there is any relevance to that."

"Something that will need to be investigated."

"I'll keep that in mind." Tim said in response.

"Let's keep an open book," Bruce said. "We may have found two locations linking several of the victims, but that doesn't mean we've found the true source of what is causing this spree of heart attacks."

"He's right," Tim agreed. "The data we've gathered thus far is only a small margin of what's been recorded."

"How long do you think it'll take to gather all information that has been recorded up until this point?" Heiji asked.

"Days, weeks even," Tim replied. "Months wouldn't be out of the question either, depending on outside circumstances."

"Hopefully that's not the case."

"There's no real way of knowing until we begin the process."

"But most importantly," Bruce said resting his hands upon the desk. "If someone is truly behind this, we must find out the who and why."

In that moment the sound of something from the other side of the wall could be heard. It was clear someone was heading their way.

"Anyone want to take a guess at who that could be?" Tim remarked already having a good idea of who would come through the door.

The three looked on as the door fell open in the coming moments, watching as he made his way into their direction with something held down at his side.

"Is it that time of day already?" Damain said immediately sighting him upon entering.

"Good to see you too." Tim said in response to this.

He ignored his comment heading straight past him where he resulted to laying what had been at his side onto the desk.

"There," Damian said. "I organized all the information as asked, it's all there."

"I appreciate you putting in the time to do that." Bruce said in response.

"Is there anything else you have for me to do, preferably something less technical," Damian asked. "If not I'm going to head down to the armory."

"No, there's nothing I have for you at this time," Bruce replied. "But if something does come up I'll be sure to let you know."

"T.T."

With that he turned back for the door, leaving the room in that instance. None of them spoke in the immediate time after. The first thing he did was reach across to grab hold of the computer that had been laid onto the desk, bringing it next to the one already set in place.

"So what happens now?" Heiji asked.

"I transfer all data from this computer into mine," Bruce replied. "Once that is done I'll add all information to the database."

"Then you'll run another scan?"

"Yes."

"Will it take as long as the other to complete?"

"Not quite," Bruce replied. "All other information is already registered into the bases memory, this additional scan will only add the new data."

"Cross referencing with what's already there, sounds simple enough."

"What about the imagery you got from the broadcast," Tim asked. "Do you think those tire marks will amount to anything?"

"I was just getting ready to look into the progress of that."

With nothing else to be said he reached back for the computer mouse, selecting the window that was set off to the side.

"Hmm."

"What is it?" Heiji asked.

"The marks, the image of them isn't clear enough," Bruce replied. "I'll have to head to the scene myself to get a more decisive shot."

"You sure you don't want me to go?"

"Thanks, but I'd rather do it myself."

"No problem in that."

"So what now?" Tim asked.

"We wait."

"For what?"

"The others will arrive soon," Bruce said in response. "I want the two of you to stay here until then."

"Are you certain they're on their way now?" Heiji asked.

"I was told they would be making a quick stop before coming here," Bruce replied. "Which means we won't have long to wait."

"What for?"

"I didn't speak with him directly," Bruce replied. "But you're free to contact him yourself if you'd like."

He looked down at his watch to check the time, quickly deciding against this.

"It's no big deal, I'll give it another thirty," Heiji said finding a spot against the wall. "Besides, they're probably out doing something important."

From there, the wait began.

Silence had filled the room for a time now, something that was welcomed. Only the occasional sound of something from outside the window causing him to shift his attention elsewhere. After a time of searching he had finally found what he had been searching for, leaning back in the seat with a pleased grin falling into place.

"Finally, we have exactly what we needed."

He stood up from where he sat, pushing the chair in after doing so. He took a look around the dimmed room, stepping away from the desk. He found his way to the bedside, facing down to find what he had seeked. Just as he reached for the TV remote a sound could be heard from clear across the room.

"What was that?"

He kept his position, simply listening to what he had heard. The sound only continued to get louder, taking little time for him to realize where it was coming from.

"It's coming from the hall."

With this known fact he made his way toward the door. Before he had the chance to reach it he could see the sudden turn of the knob, followed by the entrance of his friend and comrade.

"I had an idea it might be you." Kaito said walking over to greet him.

"What's with the lack of light," Konosuke asked after closing the door. "Were you napping?"

"No, I used the downtime to get some things situated."

"I'd love to hear about it."

"Good, because that's what I wanted to discuss."

It was at that given moment that he took notice of the plastic bag in his right hand.

"What's that you have there?"

"An extension cord and a bottle of alcohol."

"Alcohol?"

"It's not for what you may think," Konosuke said in response to this. "But enough about that, what was it you were working on in my absence?"

"Finding out the address of our friend."

"Mr. Lain?"

"Yes," Kaito replied. "I have his address, or rather addresses."

"You mean to say he has more than one registered home?"

"Yes."

"That adds to the dynamics."

"You could say that again."

"How many in all?"

"Three."

"Any of them located near here?"

"I wouldn't say close, but most certainly here in the city," Kaito replied. "Well at least for two of the locations."

"What about the third?"

"In Miami."

"I thought for sure it'd be closer than that," Konosuke said. "Being that he has two separate homes here in Gotham."

"You would think."

"Do we know where he is now?"

"I'm uncertain of that at this given time."

"Why not call the restaurant he's linked with," Konosuke suggested. "They might be able to answer that for you."

"Negative," Kaito declined. "That could lead to him becoming aware."

"Aware of what?"

"Of the fact that someone might be tailing him."

"Highly doubtful."

"What makes you believe that?"

"I don't see why he'd be concerned about someone asking about his whereabouts, especially given his current position," Konosuke replied. "I'm sure many other customers visiting one of the restaurants has asked about him."

"Maybe, but I'd rather not take the risk," Kaito said. "We might only get one shot at this, I don't plan on messing this up."

"You seem more careful than usual in this case, why is that?"

"It's all based from what I was able to find," Kaito replied. "Not only did I find out where his houses were located, but pulled up additional records for each."

"And?"

"Security," Kaito instantly replied. "Increased security."

"How severe?"

"Scanners," Kaito replied. "Scanners that can detect when someone has entered his home, and that's just touching the surface."

"Let's hear it."

"There are scanners throughout the premises as well," Kaito said with a grin falling into place. "Well at least in one case."

"And which location might that be?"

"Here in Gotham," Kaito replied. "His house located on the eastern side."

"I see," Konosuke said. "And is it safe to assume this is where you think the Equalizer is being held?"

"The increased security seems to be pointing in that direction, but that isn't enough to know for sure."

"I think it'd be best if we looked into that location first," Konosuke said. "Chances are that's where he's keeping it."

"Though we may not be entirely sure, we can rule out one possibility," Kaito said. "His property located in Miami."

"How can you be certain of this?"

"For the fact he hasn't left Gotham in over a month," Kaito informed. "With that known fact it can only mean it is being kept here in Gotham."

"Unless of course it has already switched hands," Konosuke said. "If that were the case there would be no telling where it could be."

"A possibility to be considered," Kaito agreed. "Which is why focusing our full efforts on finding it is so important."

"Agreed," Konosuke said. "So are we in agreement on where we'll search first?"

"Yes," Kaito replied. "We'll go for his home with the most security."

"That seems to always be the case."

"And also the way I like it," Kaito added before finding his way back to the computer. "Now, what do you say we begin preparation?"

"I'm all for it," Konosuke replied heading to the far side of the room. "But first, what do you say we get some light in here?"

"Be my guest."

With that said he made his way over to the other side, placing the bag on the second bed across before continuing toward the curtain.

"There's something else I wanted to ask." Konosuke said upon reaching his destination.

"What is it?"

"How much longer will we be staying here," Konosuke asked. "I'd imagine if we're going to be here awhile we'd upgrade, after all money isn't really a problem."

"You make a point," Kaito said having a quick skim of the room. "It's not very spacey in here, which makes it difficult to really set up."

"To set up," Konosuke questioned. "What do you mean by that, is there something you had in mind you haven't brought to my attention?"

"Nothing concrete," Kaito said in response. "But I did have a few ideas for setting up a small networks system, and now looking at the size of this room that could take up a fourth of the space."

"You can worry about setting that up at a later time," Konosuke said sliding the curtain aside. "Right now we need to decide on how we plan on moving in on Mr. Lain, gaining control of the Equalizer depends on it."

"I've got an idea or two."

"I'm listening." Konosuke said taking a step toward him.

"It falls right into our category," Kaito began. "A daily disguise with a tint of deception."

"I like the sound of that."

"There's just one thing," Kaito said. "We're going to need an outside guy."

"An outside guy?"

"I'll explain everything."

He smiled, ready to hear what he was to say next.

"I'm listening."

To Be Continued