Back for the last chapter. Thanks for the following and opinion on this short tale. Further tries on the batfamily can be found under Robin. Fanfiction's readers favorite seems to be Super Sons: Troubled Weekend. A Robin and Superboy adventure, with the cameo of one of the most vicious and infamous batvillain.
PEEBLE NEST HIDDEN CASINO, SELINA KYLE AND JASON TODD
After some deliberation, Selina took out her mask again trying to walk by the gambling tables incognito.
She found Caesar at the Texas Hold'em table, hand over a small pile of chips. If Selina was there for more time, she would notice the pile getting smaller and smaller, with an occasional spike up. Like this hand.
"Oh, how unfortunate, sir." She approached, leaning against him and ruffling his hair.
"Unfortunate? I won the hand, and no I am in position to control this game."
"Unfortunate I found you." She whispered on his ear, pressing one of her sharp claws on his side. "Go to men's bathroom. Now!"
He looked around the table, looking for help he knew would not find there. Selina increased the pressure.
"C-cash my chips for me, something came up."
"Of course, mister Darogham" answered the dealer.
Selina threw him at the bathroom. From a stall, came out a fully uniformized Red Hood.
"Oh my God, oh my God, I-I didn't… I don't usually come here, I…"
"I don't care about your gambling. For now." He said, pistol on hand, without pointing to him.
"There's lots of people already doing that." Selina said, cat mask on and whip on hand. "Isn't that true, Caesar Darogham?"
"I-I will pay. I have a deal with mr. Cobblepot. I-i…"
"Let's hear about this deal. First, Pauline Mann."
He looked at Jason, scared
"Pauline? W-what about her?"
Red hood holstered the gun and, in swift movement, grabbed Caesar and slammed his body against the cold tile wall.
"Talk about Pauline."
"I know nothing! I swear! I didn't follow her business at the company, don't know who she dealt with." He started to sob "It's the truth"
Telling, though Jason. If he was really guilty, his first reaction would be other. Still, worth to press it.
"Who killed Pauline?"
It was like his cry was turned out by a button, and his eyes went as big as saucers.
"W-what do you mean, killed? Pauline died of natural…Oh… she d-didn't, did she?"
Jason let him go. The man was clean of that but listening to him mumble may pay well in the end.
"Unbelievable. This could be… changes everything… if someone killed her…" suddenly he got up and was his time to hold Red Hood's lapel, saying very loudly "Oh my God, I am in danger, right? There's someone after my family!" A quick twist of arm and Caesar found himself on the ground.
"There is. Us, if we don't like the answers." Jason applied more pression on his arm, making Caesar scream. "Pauline Mann. The truth."
"All right, all right, we tried to enroll her, she did not want anything with it."
"We?"
"Me and Cynthia. Together, we have more shares than dad, and if Pauline controlled him on the bedroom to do what we wanted, we would have the control of the company and access all the money. But she did not want any of that. But, hey, if she kept distracting the old man from the numbers, it was fine to us."
"And she started to get greedy." Completed Catwoman.
"Only if she was very good at hiding it. The plans she showed at the meetings, like the fashion thing, please. She was fishing for pennies, me and Cynthia were after the millions."
"But since she not agreed with you, you killed her."
"No! Why would we do that? She was harmless – at least I think. She was keeping dad busy."
"And the fantasy sport thing?" probed Red Hood.
"What are you talking about?"
"Never mind. Just one more thing. You have no money for the real casinos, and the Penguin is not in charity business. Tell me about that deal with him." Catwoman let the end of her whip reach the floor, not making noise, just a menace at Caesar, still locked on Red Hood armbar.
"Penguin is a genius, you know. He realized he could never unite every gang on Gotham under him. Even increasing his territory would cost too much in money and blood."
"Faster, maggot" Jason increased the pressure on the arm."
"Aaaaahhhh, the money, he could control the money. Once we got the total control of the company, we would start doing hostile takeovers, bribes, buyouts. He would cause accidents in the ones that do not complied. You know. Soon, there would be no option to laundry money in Gotham but us… and him."
"Interesting." Jason relaxed the pressure.
"In a way, Pauline death can even hurt us. I know the old man. When he stops mourning, will return to work with everything he got, and the scheme will be hurt."
"Good; let's go, Red Hood."
"Why? I am still to introduce his nose to my knuckles."
"No time. Get his phone and let's go."
He did so and, before giving Caesasr a goodbye kick, he heard Catwoman.
"Just another thing… are you and Cynthia together? Like, together, together?"
FALCONE COMPOUND, NIGHTWING AND ROBIN
In a way the kid is right, though Dick Grayson. His fluid, powerful moves are complimented well by Damien's dry attacks. While he knocked out Falcone's goons in a semi-lethal dance, Robin seemed to be on a competition with himself to cause the most damage with the less muscle movements.
Soon, there's only three persons standing on that room. Nightwing, Robin and
"Rocco Gigante."
Despite the name, thee middle-height men gave a step forward.
"I am glad you consider the Falcone Family is still worth the work of two bats." He got close to a sideboard, just to feel Robin's staff under his chin. "A drink. I will just serve myself some scotch."
"That's what they said to Harvey Dent."
"Kid, the way we're now, having acid around would be too much a temptation to drink it."
Nightwing made a head gesture for Robin let Rocco move.
"We need to make some questions about your gambling business."
"The videopoker and video slot machines scattered in the poor neighborhoods?"
"You have two large casinos in Gotham."
"Had."
"What happened?"
He looked at the liquid on the glass. Nightwing noticed the ice container was empty, meaning no one around to keep filling it: the Falcones where really with problems.
"The Joker happened. During that stupid dispute between he and the Riddler*, most of the family died and he installed The Penguin as the new family head. It took years to regain our independence, but he took everything worthwhile we had." And took a big gulp. "Freaks. Gotham's underworld is now a paradise for costumed super-freaks, no place for gentlemen like the Falcones."
"And you are the new family leader"
"Saving the spot for my sons with Sofia. I don't have the Falcone's blood, but they do." He sipped a bit more. "I miss her. Well, knowing you I will be take by air to the police, either knocked out or with some bat-shaped handcuffs." He put his wrists together. "Tell me I still have the power to choose at least that."
"Darogham-Carlyle Financial." Robin cut the talk dryly.
Rocco got pale on face.
"Ah."
"You better start talking, Rocco."
"Just knock me out. I will call my lawyer later."
He almost did not saw the movement, just heard the noise and saw the staff near the now broken whisky bottle.
"Robin, stop." Nightwing moved a knocked-out henchmen away and sat in a sofa. "So, here is the deal. You talk, we leave. You don't talk, I leave, and let the kid here with you."
"What the hell, everything's probably busted by now. We were going to be partners on a new business."
"Fantasy sports."
"Lots of money on that. Darogham would enter with most capital, a pretty spokesperson and structure for the bets."
"And your part would be…?"
"Some money, plus we still have connections with a couple of players, referees, umpires. But his wife died, he entered a mourning phase and the whole thing went cold."
"Do you know how she died?"
Rocco shrugged. "I think I remember papers said she was found dead, but I did not followed the news."
Nightwing pressed.
"Would you be surprised if I say she was killed?"
"Very."
"Why?"
"Why kill the trophy wife? He would be the logical answer."
"You just said this put your scheme to a halt."
"Yes, but if the objective was to scare him or the partner, I would make that clear. Deliver a body full of torture signals and a bullet on the head. Explode the car. Whatever. May I go to my computer?"
Nightwing nodded, Robin took the lead. "Stay right there. What do you need?"
"The last email from Darogham." Robin stroke some commands and located it. "We sent flowers to the funeral, he thanked us. I think she described her death as "sleeping peacefully."
" 'She did not suffer, she died sleeping, her expression of an angel'."
"Yes, that."
"Makes sense. Robin, find the list with all those videopoker machines, send to Gordon."
"You can't do this to me!"
"I am giving you a chance. You can give a few phone calls, see how many you can save before the police gets to them. Or maybe is better use this time to call your lawyer."
"You will never find…"
"Pro-tip, Gigante. 'Sofia' is an incredibly weak password. Done, Nightwing."
"Let's move."
* War of Jokes and Riddles saga, Batman #25 to #32
SELINA KYLE (CATWOMAN) AND JASON TODD (RED HOOD)
Getting in the car, Selina could not help but chuckle.
"He read so many books on the subject, lost so many games and Caesar still can't grasp the first rule of poker: if you can't spot the sucker in your first half-hour at the table, it's you. Poor sap has no idea Cynthia is playing with him and his father."
"Well, getting home we'll have Tim get a dossier on the financial company we can give to the district attorney and end this scheme." Answered Jason
"Want tell the guys about our findings now?"
"I would let them bang heads for a while… but that's not Bruce wants." He got the radio
TOBIAS DAROGHAM HOME, DUKE THOMAS (THE SIGNAL) AND TIM DRAKE (RED ROBIN)
Cynthia Carlyle entered the house via the lateral, semi-hidden door she always used, bottle on hand. Things must be kept in secret for now, but soon she would be able to…
She just crossed the door, and a gloved hand got the bottle.
"Good choice of wine, but he should not drink so close of his medication."
"What?!"
The signal, whose power allowed him to see Cynthia walking in moments before she really did, made a gesture for her to walk.
"Please go to the dining room and take a seat, we have a lot to discuss."
"W-what are you? Yellow Bat or something?"
"The Signal, miss."
"Don't hurt Cynthia." Came the voice from the table.
"Tobias? Oh, my…"
"We are not here to hurt anyone. We just need some answers." Said Red Robin
Cynthia sat, uncomfortable, already thinking about she was going to answer.
"We better separate then. Miss Cynthia, can you follow me to the office?"
Once alone, Red Robin asked Tobias:
"You seem to have forgot about Pauline real quickly."
"No, it is still hurts. But Cynthia, Cynthia is an angel. So eager to help me, never leaving me alone… she and Ann Marie are precious to me."
"Ann Marie Ott, right? Your nurse?"
"Nurse, butler, house supervisor, I'd be lost without her on the house and Cynthia on the company."
Red Robin slid his finger on a picture frame, looked at it.
"I can see your house is very clean and organized."
"I will repass her the compliments."
"Your company is not."
Tobias breathed heavily twice, got an inhaler from his pocket, used it. Before answering
"That's how financial companies survive in Gotham."
"Even if this was true, you go looking for the mob, crime bosses and such."
"I… I am trying to change it."
"The Fantasy Sport initiative?"
Tobias looked at Red Robin, mouth hanging open
"How do you know that?"
The room designed as office at Tobias home was clearly not used that much. A half-full bookshelf, an outdated printer, a desktop and a very clean table obviously no paper touched in months. Tobias must have transferred everything to his bedroom, to move around less.
"Pauline Mann ruined your plans, right?"
"Huh?"
"Your plans with Tobias. But now you are free to date him, and assume the company, right?"
"H-how dare you."
"Caesar knows about it?" she gave two steps back, leaning against the wall. "No, he does not."
"Tobias… needs support at this time. He… mixed things. I don't intend to… you know, marry him?"
"So, you came to a romantic dinner, bringing wine." Pressed The Signal
"I can't brake his heart. His health… he may not resist."
"But it does not hurt with your ambitious plans, right? Penguin's monopoly?"
"How do… that stupid Caesar."
"Stupid Caesar you are dating."
"I am. I do like him. He is fun, and listens, and is good in." She blushed "I-I don't need to tell you that."
"No, just tell me how you killed Pauline Mann."
"WHAT? Pauline was not killed."
"Are we supposed to believe that? She was getting greedy at the company. Would drive Tobias to another patch, far from your laundry empire dream. So, she was an easy target."
"No, no, no, no, please listen, I did not know she was killed. Believe me."
"If you tell the whole story, I may."
"Right. Caesar and I, we have this big deal with the unification of the financials. And we did not want to tell his father. We were already splitting the future profits with Penguin. We wanted to keep Tobias out of it. We tried to drive Pauline to convince him to retire or, at least, gave more power to me and Caesar." She took a deep breath. "Yes, instead she decided to get more involved in the company. In the end, it was a blessing. That fashion show drew the whole attention of Tobias, and we could advance our plans. We thought she would keep doing these small things, that would serve us well, but… she died."
According to Jason and Selina, Duke thought, Caesar said the same thing.
"A couple more details…
SELINA AND JASON, DRIVING BACK TO THE CAVE
"So, the Falcones had no reason to kill her. And, if they did, would be very differently."
"We need another line of investigation, Selina."
DICK AND DAMIAN, SITTING ON A GARGOYLE
"That makes no sense, Grayson."
"Nope. Seems that a living Pauline would make everyone profit."
DUKE AND TIM, LEAVING TOBIAS' HOUSE
"We could check Tobias office at the company, to see if we find loving letters from Cynthia to him."
"I doubt, Tim, she looked sincere."
SELINA AND JASON
"No passional crime. No business foul play."
"There's something bothering me, Jason, something Dick said."
DICK AND DAMIAN
"The person did not want only to get away with murder. They wanted it to not look like a murder. Why?"
"Usually, because they wanted to protect someone, Dami."
DUKE AND TIM
"Probably protect Tobias. A murder shock cold be worst for his health."
"You are saying it's someone close to Tobias? Someone we did not talk to?"
SELINA AND JASON
"I think we must check the employees at the company."
"Yes, Selina, but how many of these have access to the house?"
DICK AND DAMIAN
"Grayson, the email said clearly she died on her sleep."
"Someone who is used to be at that house at nighttime?"
DUKE AND TIM
"Darn it!"
And rushed back to the house.
Entering the large dining room, they found Tobias sleeping at a nearby sofa, his pills at his side, Ann Mary Ott, knife on hand, on top of Cynthia.
"Don't struggle. I am a nurse, know where to hit so you don't suffer."
A batarang from Tim disarmed her, while Duke took Ann Mary away from Cynthia.
"No!" she screamed "Let me kill this jezebel! I love Tobias. I care for him! He must stay with me. Me!"
Tim was trying to calm Cynthia who was curled in a ball, sobbing.
Duke, on the other hand, was having difficulties to hold the screaming Ann Marie.
"Call the police or the others at once, Red Robin."
He tried to get on the radio, but was very busy.
"Yeah, we know that, Nightwing. Under control" Turned out, got it again "Yes, Red Hood, we got the same conclusion. Yes, neutralized." Turned out. "Yes, Alfred, I talked to them."
LATER ON, AT THE CAVE
Tim gave some last strokes at the keyboard and hit enter, his every move being watched by the other members of the batfamily plus Alfred
"On its way to Gordon and the district attorney, now the money laundry monopoly is theirs to finish probing."
"Well, I think we need to celebrate." Said Nightwing "How about a nice dinner, Alfred?"
"I will have just a fruit smoothie." Duke Thomas was climbing the stairs. "On my room. I am going to bed. Good job, everyone."
"Pheh. Bat by day." Mocked Jason.
"Shall I prepare you the same, master Damian?"
"No way, Pennyworth, I will-"
"You will be attending classes at West-Reeve early in the morning, sir."
Dick thought a bit and decided to talk in a way Damian would not fight back.
"Go on, Damian, we understand you need to keep your civilian disguise."
"Well… fine. I enjoyed working with you, Grayson. I am sure father will find merits at the others, too." And went up "Papaya, banana, strawberry now, açai in the morning, Pennyworth."
"That's a praise from him" Dick whispered to Selina "get used."
"Well, now, while Alfred prepares dinner, how should we celebrate?" Asked Tim.
"I have a suggestion" said Selina
Soon, four figures were crossing Gotham's night sky in search of crime.
"Selina, you will fit this family just fine" said Nightwing.
END
Thanks for the readership. How did I handle the batfamily? Suggestions? Opinions? Thanks in advance.