Chapter 58 Chapter 58 Forget it, no need to answer, I just...
"The surveillance's broken?" Commissioner Gordon said on the phone. "You're saying that we inexplicably lost an insignificant car accident file from eight years ago—a file that was just viewed this morning by two children who are not even as tall as the table—and the surveillance broke down when we were trying to figure out what was going on. And if I remember correctly, they were upgraded in batches last winter with the sponsorship of Wayne Technologies?"
He stood at the highest point of the Gotham Police Department, the rooftop with the bat-lights. Rainwater carved furrows into his dark blue raincoat, which swelled in turbulent arcs in the wind.
"Go check it out." Commissioner Gordon took a deep breath, the cold rain falling on his mouth. "The surveillance in the archives room is gone? No big deal. We still have the surveillance in the hallways. Pull up the footage. Have every officer who passes through those roads come forward with information they saw, heard, or noticed. Tell them they'll receive a reward if they can testify or identify who tampered with the archives. As for those who concealed the truth and betrayed their own people, tell them I'll personally put them behind bars."
The officers scattered across the railings stood motionless, as if they had heard nothing and seen nothing. The sound of rain drowned out the sound of Batman's claws, or perhaps they were simply pretending not to see, but in any case, Batman climbed over the railing unimpeded and entered the rooftop.
He stood there quietly, like a dark and huge shadow, waiting for Director Gordon to make arrangements and assign personnel to investigate the mystery of the missing files. He didn't speak until Gordon hung up the phone and turned around to see him.
"When did you get here? Never mind, you don't have to answer. I'm just asking casually," Gordon said puzzledly. "Honestly, Batman, you didn't have to come. So far, I think this is just an internal problem of the Gotham Police Department. Although I don't want to admit it, there are always traitors bribed by criminals. Unless you have reason to believe that this file is of vital importance."
He studied Batman's mask, and the small patch of skin that was exposed there, pale from the rain, trying to gauge the Dark Knight's thoughts. But as always, Batman remained expressionless.
"I didn't, Jim," Batman said, "before the file went missing."
"So you suspect there's something else going on. That's reasonable," Gordon said thoughtfully. "Are you going to tell me what conspiracy might have been involved in that car accident eight years ago?"
"I'm investigating a car accident near Chinatown last night," Batman told him truthfully. "They're Two-Face's men. The car accident eight years ago was also caused by Two-Face's men. Their car overturned and exploded in the same location, burning any evidence that could identify the body in the driver's seat. I thought it was just a coincidence at first, but then, the file from eight years ago disappeared."
Commissioner Gordon understood why he suddenly attached importance to this matter and rushed to the police station during the day. If Batman had previously only investigated the car accident eight years ago out of consideration for not missing any clues, then now, Batman had been completely focused on by the mastermind behind the incident.
Whatever he's planning to do, Batman, the city's dark guardian, has his sights on him.
And Commissioner Gordon, the guardian standing in the daylight, will do everything in his power to cooperate and help him.
"I'll find the file," he promised, "and the guy who dared to do it under my nose."
Batman had no doubt about this. He nodded, then said, "I have a way to restore the damaged surveillance footage." He had heard Commissioner Gordon urging the technicians to find a way to restore the footage, but he had a faster way than that.
Commissioner Gordon was surprised again. "How did you... Never mind, don't answer me. So this is why you came all the way here? Fine, I'll have someone leave for now and I'll take you in."
"No need." Batman smiled. "Wayne Tech's technicians will be here. Like I said before, if anything breaks, just contact Wayne. They'll take care of it."
Wayne Technology took this matter very seriously, beyond Director Gordon's imagination. They believed that this was most likely a product defect, and if they didn't give them a chance to repair it, it would be a major mistake on Wayne Technology's part.
Although he had realized that Wayne Enterprises was almost the only company in Gotham that still had a conscience, Commissioner Gordon was still sometimes stunned by their positive attitude. He was about to turn around and ask Batman what was going on, but to Gordon's surprise, Batman was no longer where he had just stood.
"I should have known that," Gordon muttered, bringing the microphone back to his lips. "Well, Mr. Fox, you can come over, but we have to sign a confidentiality agreement."
Batman, on the other hand, was crouching on a shady gargoyle below the rooftop.
While Commissioner Gordon and Lucius were busy restoring the surveillance, Batman checked the Arkham Asylum surveillance footage. His prime suspect, Two-Face, was quietly sitting in his cell, pacing restlessly and arguing with his alter ego. Nothing unusual. But Batman hadn't ruled him out. Alfred, who had stayed at the manor, was keeping an eye on Two-Face for him.
Besides that, Batman investigated the two kids who called themselves the Deduction Society. Not that he doubted they were up to anything (well, he did have some doubts), but their timing was perfect, and Batman hoped they wouldn't be drawn into any conspiracy.
"I found him. One is called Timothy Drake, and it was his housekeeper who contacted the police," Oracle said. "The other is called Elliot Shelt—Shelt comes from the orphanage where he lives, and they probably don't have the names of the child's parents—interestingly, I also found a missing person report for him from the Gotham City Children's Asylum. He's been missing for over six months. How did they get connected?"
Batman caught on to something, "Why would you say that?"
"What?"
"You said 'how could they possibly get mixed up'."
"Oh, I've already sent you their information. You'll see when you see it." A brisk tapping sound came from the Oracle's side. "It's that 'Drake', Batman. I remember that kid was at the charity dinner you hosted last year. Do you remember?"
"Have I ever given a party like this?" Batman said. "I don't even remember it."
"Yes, that was done by Bruce Wayne, not you." Oracle teased, "And everyone knows that Bruce Wayne will not remember what happened the night before."
Batman was helpless, "Barbara."
The Oracle laughed. "So you really don't remember the boy. Go read the information I sent you. I have other things to do."
Oracle was offline. Batman flipped through the information she'd sent him, realizing how bizarre it all was. A boy who was supposed to be attending school had somehow gotten to know a missing boy from an orphanage who lived in the sewers, and together they were investigating a car accident from eight years earlier. Batman almost thought he was reading a children's adventure novel.
Although his own life could be considered a book, if one counted it from the age of eight.
But then again, Gotham children generally mature early. Dick was only nine years old when he adopted him, and he taught him a lot of circus tricks of jumping in the air. Batman thought he shouldn't underestimate the mobility of these two boys.
Since they were able to infiltrate the police station directly for this case, they would definitely not give up easily. However, Batman believed that this would only bring them one step closer to danger. So his next step was to find the whereabouts of the two boys and conduct some small, friendly interviews and persuasion with them.
Elliot Shelt, the name flashed through Batman's mind as he flipped through the pages. There had to be a reason he'd remained "missing" for so long. This kid was likely incredibly skilled at navigating the streets of Gotham without being noticed. Batman wouldn't waste time searching for him when he knew there was a shortcut.
As Batman paused to turn the pages, his eyes fell on Timothy Drake's school location.
10:00 AM, Gotham City Elementary School.
When Tim was called out of the classroom, he almost immediately recalled all the violations he had committed this semester. As for why he hadn't violated the rules last semester, he was sure he had already wiped out all traces of that. But when the teacher told him that the police were looking for him, Tim's heart immediately fell back to his throat.
He certainly hadn't done anything illegal, especially since he had a last name of "Drake." The police officer had no reason to charge a child like him. So it was probably about the car accident, Tim thought, as he followed the teacher into the office.
The door closed behind them.
Tim knew something was wrong immediately. The office was lit and looked normal, but the blinds were drawn tightly, preventing anyone from seeing into the room. This was against the rules for talking to children, as the school required that doors and windows be left open, allowing others to see into the room.
Of course, the police may ask for doors and windows to be closed for the sake of confidentiality or to protect minors. But in that case, the police officer will usually wait in a conspicuous place and greet them and introduce themselves as soon as possible.
But they didn't see the officer waiting there.
When the teacher began to call out to the police officer who was supposed to be waiting there, Tim had already turned his head sharply. But he was only an eight-year-old boy with limited strength, so the image imprinted in his clear pupils was the image of a police officer swinging a baseball bat at them.
"Batman, the Gotham Police Department just received a report of a missing child. I thought you would like to know about it," Oracle interrupted urgently. "A teacher on duty also disappeared. They can testify that it was the teacher who took the child away from the class. As for the child's name-"
"Timothy Drake, I know," Batman said. "I'm right here."
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