Legends of the Batman #3

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Legends of the Batman #3
Boy Wonder
Part 2:
Detective Work

Written and Edited by Daniel Dyer

"What will happen to the boy,” asks Bruce as he talks with the police. He sees the boy getting into a police car, a look of despair on his face.

“He’ll be taken into foster care.” As the officer continues, Bruce is surveying the scene, “It appears one of the animals escaped and somehow got into their trailer. Just horrible.”

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Night, as the Batman crosses the police tape, his long cape draping over him, engulfing his entire body. He looks around, noticing the door of the trailer ripped from its hinges. In closer observation the Dark Knight Detective observes animal-like footprints leading straight for the trailer. As he enters the trailer, observing the blood on the walls. As Batman gathers a few traces of blood samples, he notices a weird shed piece of skin. He gathers it and goes, leaving no sign of ever being there.

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

"A snack, sir,” Alfred says, laying a tray of small sandwiches on a table next to the computer consoles. Bruce doesn’t acknowledge Alfred, continuing his work. “I must say, sir, you are working rather intently on something that is seemingly just an accident.”

“Murder’s never an accident.”

“Murder, sir?”

“Yes. The door was torn off its hinges. An animal would have pushed the door inwards.”

“Who could be that strong. It’s inhuman,” states Alfred.

“Exactly,” Bruce admits handing Alfred a file printed from his computer. “Waylon Jones. He had a degenerative skin disease. He was a low-level hitman for the Bertinelli crime family... before it happened. He was arrested, but a government agency stepped in and took him away. He disappeared after that. This skin sample is a scale, which DNA matches that of Jones, as does some of the blood samples.”

“A scale, sir? Has he become something... other than human.”

“Possibly,” Bruce states as he gives Alfred a newspaper clipping about Haly’s Circus. “That clipping talks about a crocodile man being introduced in the circus’s freak show. He left under bad circumstances, disgraced by the Graysons. They had discovered his dirty little secret.”

“Revenge, then?”

“Maybe...” Bruce says as he stairs intently on his computer monitors.

“Sir, it is nearly dawn. Might I suggest some rest?”

“In a bit, Alfred.”

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

"Hello, Joker,” Dr. Crane says as he approaches the giant glass wall to the Joker’s cell. How are you this morning?”

“Oh, quite good, Doc. I had a wonderful dream. I was freed, and I slaughtered you all. Heh hehe.”

“And what do you think is the cause of these desires?”

Is this guy for real? “Heh. I’d like to pay you back for your hospitality,” Joker grins as he explains.

“Now, we are only trying to help you. To make you fit back in with humanity once again.”

“Oh, yeah, I’ll fit right in. Fit right in with those sheep who don’t get it.”

“Don’t get what?” inquires Crane.

“The joke.”

“Which is?”

“You wouldn’t get it,” Joker answers.

“Try me.”

Joker just grins and laughs, seemingly unhinged.

Crane pushes a button on a walkie, talkie, “Harleen, would you bring me my files.”

Moments later, in walks a young blonde woman, shapely, thin, nice legs. “Great rack,” Joker shouts as he sees Harleen Quinzel, Crane’s assistant, as well as his fiancé.

“Watch it, Joker,” Crane tells him.

“What? Don’t you think so? Hear that, Harl, he don’t like your rack.”

Harleen giggles a bit. “He’s funny.”

“Thank you, Harleen,” taking the files. “Could you excuse us, now?”

“Sure thing, Jon. See ya, Mr... uh... J,” she says while leaving.

“What a looker, Doc. She yours?”

Ignoring Joker’s question, Crane continues, “So, why did you slaughter an entire subway station?”

“What can I say? Boredom can be a killer. Heh hehe.”

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

"Thank you, Harvey. You still are the best cook in Gotham,” Vikki says as she wipes her mouth with a napkin.

“It was my pleasure. It’s been nice to see you again, Vikki.”

“Likewise, Harvey. It’s been too long,” she says as she places her hand on Harvey’s, smiling up at him lovingly.

Harvey, a bit nervous, pulls back his hand, unsure of Vikki’s affection. “I think we should call it a night. I have an early day tomorrow.”

“Yes, of course. Me, too.”

“I’ll call you, Vikki.”

“Yeah... yeah....” leaving Harvey’s apartment.

“Ahem,” comes the Batman’s voice from the window.

Unsurprised, Harvey asks, “How long have you been there?”

“Waylon Jones,” Batman says as he tosses the Graysons’ file at Dent’s feet.

“Huh?” Harvey picks up the file and flips through it. “This was an accident, not murder.”

“Any worthwhile detective should have found it was murder, not a simple animal attack. Look at the clues yourself.”

“And Waylon Jones? What’s his connection?” Looking up from the file, Harvey notices Batman’s already gone.

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

The Dawson’s foster home. This is where we find Dick Grayson. If he thought about it, he’d consider the Dawsons a loving couple. They are two people who very much love to take in unfortunate youths. To help those in need. But Dick isn’t thinking about it. No, his thoughts are currently very singular. He’s thinking of his real parents. He’s thinking about being able to see them again. Wanting to see them again. Needing to see them again. He is a boy who is very much in pain. As, too, are the Dawsons, although, they’re in more of a physical agony. Dick’s in his room, hearing their screams, just before his door opens.

Standing in the doorway is a hulking, green, scaly man. His teeth are sharp, eyes red, like blood. “Come to Killer Croc, Dickie...”

To be continued