Disclaimer – You recognise it, I don't own it.
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Meanwhile, the two detectives were continuing a long day, at Wayne Enterprises.
"Miss Fox," Montoya took the lead, "Can you explain why you haven't reported Mister Drake missing?"
"I didn't know he was." She replied quickly, "I haven't seen Tim since I left to go on holiday a month ago. It's my first day back today. I only got back from Hawaii yesterday, and I was trying to readjust my body-clock."
"A month in Hawaii? That is a very long, very expensive holiday."
"It was a thank you." Miss Fox shrugged, "I spotted a legal loophole in a contract. It would have cost us over a million dollars at the low end. Tim was furious that the legal department hadn't spotted it. However, he was grateful that I had. He paid for the holiday to Hawaii. Put me up at the Four Seasons Hualalai. Everything paid for."
"You didn't contact him at all during that time?"
"I sent him a text when I arrived at the hotel. I sent him a text when I arrived back in Gotham. He didn't respond to either."
"You weren't worried?"
"Tim doesn't reply to texts unless it is necessary. And I don't send personal texts to him that require replies. It's an odd system, but it works for us."
"You call him Tim?"
"He's not a Wayne. He dropped that part a good while back. And referring to him as Drake upsets the Board. They still remember Drake Industries. Calling him Tim means that no-one objects. Besides my father and Mister Wayne have been very close for a long time."
"And you were once engaged to him."
"Publicly yes. Privately no. It was a rushed decision on my part to announce a lie, in order to cover up something going on in the business. I was reamed out by my father and my boss. Yes, they are the same person, but not the same people, if you understand me."
"I think I do."
"I had to attend multiple sessions on how to deal with the Press. I was trying to distract the world from the fact that Tim had just been emancipated and made CEO. Taking the place of a quite frankly, at the time, unstable Mister Wayne. Those of us who were aware of his instability were doing our best to keep it out of the Media. I panicked. I'd spent some time with Tim in a one-on-one setting. So, it was partly believable. From what I heard, Tim's reaction when he found out was highly entertaining."
"Do you know of anyone who had a grudge against Mister Drake?"
"That depends what you mean by a grudge. I know that he was disliked intensely by several other CEOs, because he wasn't a pushover. Several people have been fired since Tim took control, due to their own failings, but it isn't unheard of for people to blame the CEO. A few members of the Board aren't keen on him being in charge. There's a few protesters who don't believe we are doing enough to help protect the planet and animals and basically anything they can protest against. Neither Master Wayne nor Master Todd-Wayne are particularly fond of him."
"His own brothers?"
"I rather doubt any of the three of them would claim that Tim was their brother. I've always had the feeling that Tim feels he let Master Todd-Wayne down and that he fears that Master Wayne is right."
"Let him down how? And right about what?"
"I am not entirely sure why Tim believes that he let Master Todd-Wayne down. However, I do know that he used to look up to him very much. Set him on a pedestal almost as much as Master Grayson was at the time. As for Master Wayne… Spend a few minutes in his presence where the topic is Tim and you will understand Tim's fears. I will say no more on the matter."
"We have done so, though I doubt the outcome was what you would expect." Montoya shrugged.
"Do you believe that either of them could be behind Mister Drake's disappearance?" Allen pressed.
"I would like to say no. However, I do not feel I can. If I knew more information I could be more certain. What I can say, is that if either of them were involved… It would have been directly. There's a certain attitude they have. They wouldn't want anyone else to be able to take the credit. It would be down to them alone. I presume you have evidence of foul play?"
"We have evidence of torture."
"Then neither Master Todd-Wayne or Master Wayne are involved."
"How can you be so certain?"
"They want him out of the family. They don't want him tortured. I wouldn't say they would object to him being hurt in the leaving of the family. However, they wouldn't consider torture to be necessary. In fact, I believe that both of them would deem it to be rather distasteful; as, in their cases, it would be torture for torture's sake."
"You are certain about that? You haven't personally interacted with them."
"There's the little Tim has told me about them. However, I've learned more about them from talk around WE than you would think. Master Wayne is generally deemed to be a quite emotional young boy, who doesn't quite realize that he needs to temper his arrogance. A boy who is so scared that he can be easily replaced he tries to push away anyone he sees as a threat. Though I have heard some softening towards him in the last year or so. Several people remarking that he's a sensitive boy trying to hide it with arrogance and ego. Master Todd-Wayne… Tim respects the hell out of him, pardon my French. Master Todd-Wayne sees him as an intruder. Someone who forced their way into the family and then didn't leave. I think there's a grudging respect on Master Todd-Wayne's part now. However, that's purely based on things Tim has said in passing."
"Has there been any contact that you are aware of? Any threats? Any ransom?"
"Threats would be filed with the Security Department. I'm not aware of any that were to be taken seriously. Ransoms coming to me? Unlikely, I don't have the ability to authorise anything that could be deemed suitable for ransom. You would be better off talking with Mister Fox."
"Would he have informed you of anything regarding a ransom?"
"I don't know. Possibly. However, if he believed it could cause harm to Tim… He wouldn't. Mister Fox… Dad, has always been rather fond of Tim."
"Do you know why?"
"Tim is… He's smart. I think he reminds Dad of what Mister Wayne used to be like."
"Used to be like?"
"Look, the Bruce Wayne you know isn't the man he always was. Go back far enough in his history and you'll find out that he used to be a very smart man. Top of his class. Then he went away on a trip around the world… He never came back the same."
"Drugs?"
"I'm not sure. I think he saw something. Something that changed everything. Something that made him what he is now. A man determined not to acknowledge his own intelligence. Because I know it is still there. Every so often he lets out a tiny glimpse of it."
"I think you're seeing stuff that's not there."
"May be." Tam sighed, "But that's my opinion. However, I believe I am not going to be of any more use to you."
"Do you know what Tim's schedule was for your holiday?"
"I can print you a copy." Tam moved to her computer, "Bear in mind his schedule is very flexible. And I only get details for the WE business. Some sections will be blocked out and I can't tell you what he was planning on doing at those points. Not because I don't want to… But because I don't know. All I know is that I have to plan around those blocks, or ask him to change them if I really have to… And he doesn't talk about them. Ever. I don't ask. He doesn't say."
"Understood."
It was the work of a moment to print out the schedule.
"Why is it in different colours?" Montoya frowned looking at it.
"That's how he arranges it." Tam shrugged, "Different colours correspond to different things. But I don't know the system. I can tell you that the black with yellow writing never gets moved. Never. The rest? He can be flexible on."
"He booked the weekend after his last sighting down as black with yellow writing."
"And the last appointment on the Friday was a lunch meeting, but there's no mention of where or with who."
"I normally put those details in." Tam stated, "That must have been a last minute booking with Tim entering the bare details. He does that occasionally. All I can say is that there was no appointment on that day, at that time when I left for my holiday."
"Thank you for your time, Miss Fox." Allen decided to call the interview quits; there was nothing else they could learn at that time.
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"Give me a moment," Robin instructed Batman, "I am not certain if this will work."
"When did you last come here?"
"Approximately three months ago," Robin replied, "I needed his assistance with a group of technologically advanced criminals. However, I was only permitted into the house above, rather than his actual Nest."
"And you didn't approach Oracle?"
"Oracle was unavailable at the time." Robin shrugged, "Besides, it has often been suggested to me that the best way to build a relationship is to find mutual interests to participate in together."
"Crime fighting is not normally deemed a suitable activity." Batman muttered.
"So far it seems to be satisfactory for us."
"Brat," Hood's voice came over the comms, "In yet?"
"I am having difficulty with the lock." Robin reported, "Red Robin has not yet entrusted me with the opening mechanism. Have you any advice?"
"Which entrance ya trying?"
"I only know of one. The one he utilizes for his motorcycle."
"That's locked down like Fort Knox when he's not there. I don't know how ta get past. Ya ever entered from the other side?"
"Not while conscious. As I have informed you previously."
"Right, can ya get in without setting off the alarms? Not through the front door."
"Tt. I have done it before."
"Get inside, and I'll try ta direct ya."
"You do not believe I will be able to follow your directions?"
"That's not the problem. I don't know if the system will accept ya, and not Timmy."
"Would it accept yourself?"
"I've only ever used it when he led me in. I don't think so. And he once mentioned a pressure sensor. You're closer to his weight."
"It could be more sensitive."
"Then be smart about it." Hood snapped, "You know his weight. You know your own. Make up the difference. Move it!"
It didn't actually take Robin long. There wasn't much difference between the two of them in weight. The spine reconstruction and Damian's heavier muscle mass making up a good portion of additional weight that most people wouldn't have expected from his small size.
"Go to his Dark Room."
"I do not know what that is." Robin had an almost imperceptible frown gracing his face.
"Where he develops his photographs. You don't know what a dark room is?"
"I do not see the point of film photography. It is an antiquated format of image capture."
"Timmy considers it an art form. 'Sides it is no less out-dated than your paintings. Anyway, find the Dark Room. If ya need directing…"
"I have found it."
"Both of ya go in. And shut the door. Do not hit the lights or the switch by the door."
"Understood."
"Lock the door using the wheel. There's a light switch behind the door. Flick it."
"Done."
"Hook on the door with the apron on it. Pull up."
"The wall behind me has opened to reveal a bookcase."
"Good. That's Timmy's diversion. Now turn on both taps. To full."
"The bookcase just split to reveal a staircase. I take it that Drake's Nest is at the bottom."
"Correct. Fair warning, he's got a wicked security setup on his computer. Watch yourself."
"Where is the pressure sensor?"
"Don't know. Just go first."
"Tt. Typically useless."
"Hey, I got you in brat! You'd never have managed it on your own."
Robin led the way down the staircase, Batman following close behind.
The Nest was pretty much as they expected; organised and uncluttered.
Robin moved towards the lockers against the wall. The first two contained Red Robin outfits, each one complete and intact; albeit of different types. There were two variations of the outfit. Mentally, Robin catalogued them as the Gotham and Titan outfits, the first locker was green and the second was red. The third locker was yellow in colour and contained only a partial suit. The fourth locker, black, consisted of clothing that could be used to alter a body's appearance; most notably from male to female.
A clothes rack was situated nearby, with hangers clearly ready to receive clothing of a formal or professional nature and keep them clean and neat. It was in front of a door. Robin opened the door and realized that the rack could be pushed in to keep it safely out of the way. However, the room was already containing a shelving unit. Multiple plastic boxes were on the shelves, in three colours: red, blue and purple.
Robin emerged from the storage room, there was nothing there to help solve the current situation. He easily spotted Batman inspecting the Forensic equipment set up near the computer.
Robin made his way over to the designated garage space. Where once upon a time he would have expected to see the Red Bird, there was a motorbike. There was also a mechanic's station, clearly used not only to repair the bike, but also build specialist equipment, such as the Wings.
"I can not find anything to indicate that Drake is currently working on a case." Robin declared after poking around further.
"I concur." Batman nodded, "All his files seem to indicate long term projects. Nothing that would have come to a head at the beginning of the missing period."
"It would appear that all of his uniforms are accounted for." Robin added, "I counted three Gotham suits and two for the Titans. One more suit appears to be in repair."
"There's one of each in the Batplane he 'borrowed'." Nightwing declared walking into the Nest.
"Along with a Robin, Nightwing and Red Hood suit." Red Hood agreed, "Only they ain't sized for us."
"A Batman suit as well, I presume." Batman asked.
"Of course not." A new voice almost spat the words, "Don't you know anything?"
"Course they don't." A second voice joined in, "If they did… We wouldn't be in this mess."
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Please Review.
I write stories because I can't draw. I have all these images in my head that I cannot reproduce. So I try and describe them with words. If anyone else would like to try to translate what I have written into what they think I saw in my head, they have my permission. I only ask that I be notified of it, so that I may look and go "OOoooh!".
Many thanks to my reviewers:
Loftcat27 – Thanks. Glad you're enjoying this.
Inthenightguest – Sorry, not sorry. I like messing with feelings. I hope I continue to meet your standards.
