Disclaimer: I do not own Batman
Robert Lowery, arrested on charges of arson and homicide. He was handcuffed and was being escorted to an armoured truck for a prison transfer. He was put in the truck and was driven away from the prison, the entire time, he had a smug look of superiority on his face, which irritated the police keeping an eye on him. Lowery wouldn't have felt so smug if he knew what was waiting for him. The truck abruptly stopped, surprising everyone, but what scared everyone was when the heavily armoured door to the back of the truck was ripped off by a shadowy figure. The officer aimed his shotgun at the figure, only for it to grab away the gun and bend it in half with no effort.
Hours later, GCPD officer, Michael Lane, arrived at the scene with a small group of officers. While they talked to the other officers, who had been knocked out during the attack, Lane investigated inside the truck, Robert Lowery had been brutally killed, while investigating, Lane noticed a shadowy figure in some nearby shrubbery and dismissed everyone. The other officers all drove away and Batman approached Lane.
"What can you tell me?" asked Batman
"You're lucky you ain't squeamish, the guy looks like he was mauled by some wild animal."
"Who was the victim?"
"His name was Robery Lowery, former member of the US marines, after returning from the army, he became an arsonist for hire, his attacks resulted in a number of deaths." said Lane
Batman searched the armoured truck for any evidence, he saw something small in the corner of the truck, taking out a pair of tweezers, he picked up what appeared to be a scale.
"Any idea who may have hired him in the past?"
"Yeah, he was frequently in the employ of Sal Maroni."
"The Boss? The second most powerful crime boss in Gotham?"
"The same. Lowery was being transferred in exchange for info on Maroni." said Lane
Within an hour, Batman was on the roof of Maroni's building. Sal was in his library, reading. Without making a sound, Batman snuck into the room and was behind Maroni.
"Robert Lowery."
Maroni turned to see what was behind him and was grabbed by the shirt collar and slammed against a bookshelf.
"The Batman? What do you want?"
"Your arsonist friend, Robert Lowery, just got killed during a prison transfer."
"Huh, shame, he was good at his job."
Batman threw Sal onto the nearby table.
"OW! I think you broke something."
"Let's see how much I can break before you talk!"
"You'd break everything and I won't talk, I had nothing to do with Lowery's death."
Batman placed a boot on Maroni's face and dropped the scale next to the crime boss.
"Look familiar?"
"Never seen it!"
Batman was interrupted by a call on his cowl from Lane.
"Batman, come to GCPD, there's been another attack."
Batman left Maroni, he had nothing concrete, so he had to leave him, for now. He arrived on the roof of the GCPD where Lane was waiting.
"Who's the victim?"
"Abraham Arlington, demolitions expert, arrested for bomb threats. No one saw anyone enter the lock-up or leave, but this was found near the body." said Lane, holding an evidence bag with a small scale inside.
Batman had taken the scale to the Batcave, using his computer to analyse the scales, they appeared reptilian, but the analysis showed they had a human cellular structure.
"It's quite interesting, Master Bruce, an arsonist and a bomb expert, if this keeps up, the next one will be an expert with boiling water." said Alfred
"Or microwaves, hahaha."
Bruce checked the files on the two attacks, there must be some link between Lowery and Arlington. Checking the Bat-Computer, Bruce found the perfect lead.
CIRCUS BURNS
GCPD arrested 3 men on suspicion of burning down Circus Zozzona, resulting in the deaths of all the circus performers and the audience. Abraham Arlington, Danny Weaver and Robert Lowery were named by an anonymous witness, who claimed that the trio were seen threatening the ringmaster for money on behalf of crime boss, Sal Maroni.
"A lead?"
"More than that, all three men were acquitted after testimony from Maroni. More reports from the GCPD hinted that one circus performer may have survived and escaped the fire." said Bruce
"Hm, apparently, after the three were acquitted, Arlington continued his demolition hobby and was arrested for destroying a bank. Lowery continued to work for Maroni before he was busted for gun smuggling. That just leaves Danny Weaver." said Alfred
"And I'm sure our mystery attacker is thinking the same."
Apartment Building
Danny Weaver returned to his apartment building after a night of drinks. When he reached the door to his apartment, he was shocked to see it was severely damaged, pulling out a pistol, he stepped into his apartment, trying to sneak around to find the intruder, but he should have checked the closet, as a hand burst from the closet and pinned Weaver against the wall. Weaver felt nothing but fear as he looked into the blood red eyes of his attacker. He had no time to react as he was thrown into the living room, the attacker stepping out of the shadows, a seven foot monster, green scales covering his body, dressed in nothing but a ripped pair of black pants.
"This is for Circus Zozzona!"
Both Weaver and his attacker were caught off guard by the sound of shattered glass and another shadowy figure entered the room.
"Batman?" asked Weaver
"Whoever you are, step away from Weaver!"
"This bastard doesn't deserve to live, he took everything from me."
"I know, the circus took you in when everyone else ridiculed you for how you look, but you shouldn't take the law into your own hands."
"Why not? I tried to do it the right way, I called the cops, I saw them take away those three, and I read that they got away with it!"
The man grabbed Weaver by the shirt collar.
"I won't let anyone get away this time, the circus was my family!"
"Batman, please, I can't die at the hands of some killer croc!"
"What's your name?"
"Waylon."
"Waylon, think about the friends from the circus, would they approve of what you've become? A murderer, a monster!"
Tears started to fill Waylon's eyes, he dropped Weaver and dropped to his knees.
"I'm…sorry!"
READ AND REVIEW
