Chapter Text
Gordon looked over the crime scene. The bright room reminded him of Barbara’s room as a little girl. The drawings were done in crayon and showed the family. A purple, slender figure was in another picture on the desk. He wondered what that was. Maybe a cartoon character or something from her imagination.
He sighed.
There was no evidence of a struggle, no extraneous DNA, no clear signs of entry.
This was hopeless for their side. They’d canvas the neighborhood. Gordon sighed. Luckily, the parents had realized this while it was still dark.
Gordon went to the station and lit the Bat-signal.
Twenty minutes later, Batman appeared.
“Gordon, this is late even for you.”
“It’s an emergency, Batman. Time is of the essence.”
“Joker?”
“No, he’s still drugged up to the gils in Arkham,” Gordon said. He checked. Often. “We have a missing child case. Mary Rochester, age 2. She vanished from her bedroom this evening. No signs of entry, no signs of struggle, no signs of foul play.” He saw Batman frown. The man was always sympathetic to children, but he’d become even more attentive after he’d gained Robin, who was likely back in their cave.
“The parents called it in?”
“Yes, they searched the house, then called us. This is Gotham. Nothing means something in situations like this.”
“I agree. You don’t suspect them?”
“They’re being interrogated, but they keep repeating the same story. Girl went to bed around 7. They checked up on her around 9. At 11, they were going to bed and did another check-in, and she was gone.”
“I’ll check out the crime scene.” Gordon relaxed. As unorthodox as it was to work with a vigilante, this was the reality of crime fighting these days. Most major cities had a vigilante of some sort. Batman was one of the best, especially for being only human. Gordon gave him the address. “I’ll be in touch.” He vanished.
Ah hell. Jim wanted to go home, but it looked like another late day. At least he was divorced, and Barbara was staying with her mother this week.