"Yes, I think so.", Waylon nodded. "I just don't know what could've happened...", with a frown. "Maybe a terrible storm came through.", Poppy suggested. "Uprooted the tree, caused it to tip over onto the grave? Or a lightning strike causing a fire?".
"Either would be bad...", Bruce said. "But not something truly in our control and all... just... one of those tragic weather events.", with a sigh. "No...", Waylon shook his head. "No, I don't think this music would be like this if it was something like that."
Alfred replied, "Waylon's right. He and Kel would have lifted up the tree and such with their strength, and sure, maybe the gravestone would have been crushed, but this is something different...something that is unrecoverable like if the tree accidentally fell into the shack over the grave in a slightly different direction, unable to recover invaluable belongings...".
Poppy widened her eyes with horror, "Wait, unrecoverable? What if it's not a storm or a fire, but manmade, to uncover something...or rather two somebodies?", and everybody was still as the music in the chimes became hauntingly loud, to show that Poppy hit the jackpot on the nose.
"No...", Waylon whispered as everyone's blood ran cold. "Someone knows...", Alfred muttered in horror. "Someone knows our secrets...".
"Impossible.", Bruce said. "How the hell would anyone know about Caroline and Jane's connection to things? Father's robbery... that could just be a coincidence. A sick one, but still, maybe no connection to the She-Hulk or the Batman... but them?".
Martha whispered, "Leslie is sworn not to tell anybody as she literally was there from the beginning, and she cared for Thomas as a friend and comrade, and she never knew the specifics of Waylon's old home...".
Kel frowned, "We have been so careful when heading back to the manor after patrols, and into Gotham before patrols...It's a stalker...A stalker would have read about the mugger and Thomas..And then Batman was there when Poppy was rescued with the other girls...".
"Do...do you think somebody on our private plane was bribed, as we have been traveling to Louisiana over the past five years, even after they never saw Waylon's sick condition before he was able to ride normally with us as human again on later visits to pay respects and having family dinners?", Poppy asked quietly as she looked at the others in shock.
"Even that's a stretch.", Bruce said. "I mean, possible, sure, but it would have to be quite a bribe; not like we've had been cheating out anyone of payment there.".
"And of course, we don't have much in the way of proof. We can just start accusing those closest to us of betraying our trust.", Alfred added as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Only thing we know for sure... is we need to check on Caroline and Jane's grave... that much is for sure.".
"Dad and I can go alone.", Waylon suggested. "If there is a mole, we can perhaps throw the trail off a bit if you stay in town, Martha. Don't you have that thing with that Aziz woman tomorrow?", he asked.
"Oh, that's right...", Martha bit her lip. "She said she wanted to talk to me about something very important...", with a nod. Poppy then replied, "And I got a gymnastics practice tomorrow too...My coach has been understanding of family issues, but with the championship coming up, she has been strict lately, and I can't miss it...".
Bruce replied, "As I am already 20, and got my car, I will watch over Poppy, Mom and Mama.", and Kel replied, "He's right...And we can get a call from Alfred and Waylon as soon as they get there...We will figure out what to do from there after we finish with Talisha Aziz.".
Martha exhaled deeply, knowing that Poppy is now almost 13 chronically, physically 14, and mentally 15, and with her gymnastics for over a year now, almost two years, she can take care of herself as much as Bruce does.
Martha then nodded, "Okay, let's not waste time then. I will make a call to the airport and for our private plane to be prepped and ready for you two while you get going.", looking at Alfred and Waylon.
"We'll let you know what's happened... praying that we're wrong and that maybe it is as we thought before... a simple storm or fire...", Alfred said. "Yeah... alright, Bruce, Poppy, you two head back to bed, I'll make the arrangements.", Martha told them.
Bruce nodded, "Yes, Mom.", as Kel ruffled his hair, as Bruce muttered, "Mama, not the hair!", as Kel laughed warmly as Martha kissed his cheek, and then Bruce left Waylon's room with a brotherly wink at Waylon, and a smile at Alfred.
Poppy stepped up to Waylon, "You have to be careful, okay?", cradling his cheek as he caressed her hand, covering it with his hand, looking at Poppy, "I will, Poppy...I am sorry I couldn't go support you at the practice with Bruce, but this is an emergency...".
"I know, but you deserve to know what happened down there, and you need this more than anything, Wally...I promise I'll be fine, and I will try my best to focus on the practice.", Poppy nodded.
Waylon smiled softly, "I know you will...", embracing her with his arm, and kissing her on the lips tenderly and lovingly for a few long moments before replying warmly, "I love you, Poppy.".
Poppy smiled brightly, "I love you too, Wally.", playing with the strands of his dark brownish-black hair on the nape of his neck, and Waylon held her for a minute before a throat cleared with a slight cough.
Waylon let go of Poppy as she and he squeezed hands momentarily, and then Poppy went to leave the room, having a kiss on the temples by Martha and Kel, and a shoulder squeeze by Alfred who spoke determinedly, "We will look after each other, Poppy.".
Poppy smiled at him, "Thanks, Alfred...", and then finally went back into the hallway to her bedroom, and Martha replied, "Why don't you two get changed into day clothes and all while I make the call?".
Alfred and Waylon nodded, and Alfred left to his bedroom to change while Martha left to her office to make the call with Kel whooshing back into her, as Waylon glanced at the chimes still making haunting sad music, "We're coming, Mama.", before going to change his clothes as well.
It was a few hours later when Alfred and Waylon had already taken off before dawn came. Martha had gone back to bed feeling sick to her stomach about things but couldn't show up to the meeting with Talisha by looking and feeling tired. Once Martha was up again, she got herself ready like her children, ready for the day.
The front door then suddenly rang as Martha finished preparing. "Alfred! The do- oh, right...", she suddenly remembered that she was all alone in the manor for the day. She quickly made her way back down to the front of the home before opening the door and her eyes widened in surprise to see Talisha there.
"Talisha.", Martha said with a bit of surprise in her voice. Talisha looked slightly awkward yet nervous and polite as she spoke, "I apologize, Martha. I thought it would've been better to talk to you in the privacy of your own home...".
Martha is concerned, "Is everything alright?", and Talisha replied, "Yes, everything is alright with the work of my business, and even Dent...It's something else...May I come in?".
"Oh, of course! I couldn't be rude not to let you in. Care for a drink?", Martha smiled warmly, gesturing for her to come in. "Thank you, Martha...And yes, a drink would be appreciated...".
"Anything you particularly want?", Martha asked as Talisha followed her in. "Might be a bit out of the ordinary with the time, but I was curious if you were willing to pour us something a bit strong...", she suggested as Martha stopped for a moment. "You mean some alcohol?".
"Whiskey, wine, champagne; something that's got a bit of a kick to things.", Talisha chuckled. It was an odd request, especially with-it being morning still but Martha didn't see why not.
"Well, I do have some wine choices. We can use the small dining room next to the kitchen...Must be a bit cold out there, huh?", Martha replied thoughtfully.
Talisha replied, "A bit nippy, I must admit, but nothing I can't handle...I hope I wasn't asking too personally for alcohol, but honestly, I need a bit of kick, after the morning I had on the phone with my father...He has been pushing me again...", with a sigh.
"Oh, dear... I guess the coffee shop would feel too much, huh?", Martha asked gently, and Talisha nodded, "Exactly...Any pastries on a chance to enjoy next to the wine? I quite miss those delicious chocolate chip muffins. It's not usual in my homeland.", with a sheepish smile.
Martha chuckled, "We all have our guilty pleasures in pastries. I myself can't go a week without at least having one or two chocolate scones. I believe there is still a plate of assorted pastries that Alfred prepared yesterday...His cooking has been fabulous for years and years, through his son is not far behind.".
"Oh, I get to have a taste of the infamous Alfred's pastries?", Talisha asked with delight and surprise, and Martha smiled, "Why not? And besides, he wouldn't want us to waste them anyway while they are still fresh.", as they made it to the kitchen.
Martha hummed as she looked into the wine fridge, "Well, I got red, white, or sparkling.", as Talisha looked around in amazement at the top of the state kitchen, glancing at the pastry display plate holder full of the pastries Martha just spoke about.
"Red, please.", Talisha said as Martha went to grab a bottle. "Personally, I'm a red wine woman myself at times...", Martha chuckled, "It's one of those that I'm normally fine with... never really cared much for beer or whiskey or that sort of stuff. Just a bit of a lightweight when it comes to sprits and all.".
"That's fair. Was the late Mr. Wayne the same?", Talisha asked curiously as Martha moved to grab a couple of wine glasses, and she smiled sadly, "He enjoyed whiskey occasionally, but he preferred scotch on the rocks more if he was at the bar during society balls. As for wine, he goes usually with sparkling wine, though he sometimes sipped at my red wine if he was interested in the brand of the red wine at times.".
Talisha chuckled, "Smart man there. May I carry this to the table?", gesturing to the pastry display plate holder, and Martha nodded, "Of course.".
Talisha picked it up and carried it as Martha carried the wine bottle and the wine glasses along, to the small informal dining table, and so, they went into sipping at the wine and nibbling on the pastries.
"Oh, by Allah, this is so good!", Talisha complimented as she sampled the pastry in her hand, and Martha chuckled, "I'll tell Alfred that you enjoyed it all...What has happened for your father to push you harder, if you don't mind me asking?".
Talisha sighed deeply, "Turns out my father is pushing me to consider being romantically out in public with Dent to show that he is dating me and all...", with a huff, and Martha blinked, "But you are only being acquaintances with Dent because of politics, and he's helping you out with your business...That's...How does Dent feel about that?".
"I'm not fully sure...", Talisha admitted. "Honestly, he seems at times to be much more occupied with his work...", with a shrug. Martha hummed, "That's a good thing... for us in Gotham at least. Certainly had a fair share of DAs over the years quite lacking in their work... half the time because they were on the payroll of the families.".
Talisha looked thoughtful, "That actually makes more sense now...He talked often about not failing the expectations of the voters and the city...", and Martha replied, "There's a difference between political pressure and social pressure...Trust me, give it a few years, and you will see it like I do, not that I wouldn't go for mayor...Oh, believe me, I want to keep helping the unfortunate and the homeless into finding jobs and homes for their families, but I feel like being a mayor would have taken me away from helping my son manage the company once he takes over next year, and helping out my charities and foundations of the people, you know?".
"That's actually clear than what I have learned about Dent's political adversaries for the elections and such...Still, it's too bad...I would have voted for you, Martha.", Talisha smiled warmly.
Martha blushed, "Oh, thank you, Talisha, that would mean a lot in another life...", before their heads turned at the sounds of something crashing and a series of whines and yelps, and she frowned, "Sounds like Chess and Bandit, and one of the vases or something. May I be excused to check what's going on?", looking back at Talisha.
Talisha smiled, "Go on. I will save you the scones. I can't quite get enough of those pastries. And oh, do you want me to top your glass? It's looking low. I can fill it up while you check on your dogs.".
"Not too much, Talisha. I may be off from work, but I unfortunately got some paperwork to look through for the afternoon, you know?", Martha chuckled, and Talisha nodded, "You got it, Martha.".
Martha left the small informal dining table, heading for the sounds of the dogs as Kel mentally groaned, "Brilliant. Was going to suggest that you tell her to make one of those compromise things, like pretending to date while still working on her business into a successful venture, like until her father backs off at how she's successful and not needing to be married for politics...".
A bit buzzed from the wine, but still somber, she nodded, mentally replying, "That would work...", with a smile as she got closer to the sounds of the dogs, sighing frustratedly at the sight of a fallen vase into pieces on the floor in a hallway down from the main wing.
"Oh, great...That was Mother's favorite vase.", Martha groaned lightly, and Kel mentally replied, "I thought it was ugly anyway...". Martha hummed, "Me too...Mother wasn't quite having a good eye for art anyway, since it was Father who was better at it.", as she kept following the sounds of the dogs, intending to use a broom and such from a nearby closet.
She looked into the closest room, and followed the much louder sounds, kneeling over a couch, and blinked for a few seconds before walking back as Kel mentally replied, "Didn't expect that...Through I thought Chess was the dominant one...", as the brief image of the two male dogs going at it flashed by.
They didn't know that Chess, on their territory walkarounds, got hit with a hormone tranquilizer, and in a while, it got Bandit into the mood to see Chess as fertile, and in a chase of lust and such, they accidentally knocked over the vase.
Martha replied, "I guess they did it outdoors when anyone was sleeping or whatever...They must have been too impatient or something for today, maybe smelling the stress off us last night.", as she opened the nearby closet to take out the broom and sweeper holder to clean up the vase pieces.
"That or getting territorial, trying to prove who's the top dog. Males tend to.. thrust their groins on another to assert dominance.", Kel said.
"Well, didn't think that those two would do something like that; you'd think they'd be friends and all, but they are dogs at the end of the day. Anyways, let's just clean this up and hurry back to Talisha.", Martha commented.
It took a few minutes, but Martha was sure that she had gotten all the pieces and cleaned up the area before she dumped the shattered vase and returned to Talisha.
"Sorry for the wait.", Martha apologized. "Dogs broke a vase in the hall... normally, they're careful but guess they just fought in the worst possible spot in the manor.".
Talisha replied, "Oh, my...I hope they haven't stepped on any broken pieces.", and Martha replied, "No, they didn't, thankfully.", as she sat down, grabbing a scone to nibble on.
"That's good to hear at least. Where were we? Oh, yeah, Dent and my problems...", Talisha sighed softly as she sipped her red wine. Martha said, "About that, I believe I found an idea to help you out.", finishing her scone.
Talisha looked at her curiously, "Oh?", and Martha nodded, "What if you and Dent pretend to date, so you could get your father off your back, and in the meantime, with Dent's support and perhaps the people at his request, you could get your business up quicker, and then after some time of being successful, you get your father to see how you did, not needing a political marriage when you're already successfully proficient in owning a company?", sipping her own red wine after that.
"Perhaps... I mean, to be honest, all I could say is I'm getting close and that would probably be enough for him to not really apply any pressure. Not like he has really anyone in this city to report back to him as opposed to your family growing up.", Talisha chuckled as she took a sip of her drink while keeping her eyes on Martha.