Murder at Wayne Manor

Chapter 13

Gotham; June 20th, 01:33 EST

I peer through my binoculars at the warehouse down below, waiting patiently and biding my time. I know that something is going on here, my snitch coming through with some information that I'd been sorely needing regarding Ash.

Word on the street is that this is one of the locations where Ash is being manufactured, a drug lab contained somewhere inside the decaying warehouse. It used to be a shipping company since the early nineteen hundreds until the company went bankrupt in the eighties and had to be shut down.

It had been used for many things over the years since then, none of it above the board. The city council had discussed tearing it down over the last ten years since birds and vermin had become its sole occupants, but nothing had ever come from the discussions, mostly because no one could agree on what to do with the property once the building was gone.

It was nothing but a dilapidating eyesore that had been used for drug deals and prostitution, but even illegal activity like that had dwindled over the last couple years. Regular sting operations by the GCPD will do that to a site like this, making it the last place a criminal would want to do business. Knowing that Batman or the cops were going to show up at any second certainly puts a damper on things.

I carefully scan the area surrounding it, checking for any activity before securing my binoculars in my utility belt. I fire my grappling gun, hearing the soft clink of the metal claw as it takes hold against the rough concrete ledge.

I allow the cable to pull me up and away, the air cool against my face. Despite it finally being summer, the night is still a little cool at times. Summer in Gotham typically meant an increase in crime, the hot temperatures seeming to bring out the worst in people, causing tempers to flare and consciences to all but disappear. It was only a matter of time.

Landing on the roof, I retract my grapple line before contacting Tim. "Standby, Robin. I'm going in."

"I've got your back, Bats."

"Notify me immediately if anyone shows up."

"Got it."

I creep towards a door that leads up to the roof, testing the handle and carefully pulling the door open. It practically comes off its hinges, forcing me to lean the door against the brick work. I slip inside, silently working my way down into the warehouse.

I can hear the wind howling outside, causing parts of the old building to creak and moan with the stress being placed upon it. I just hope it doesn't come down on my head as I work my way deeper inside. I find nothing but cigarette butts and trash littering the floor along with enough graffiti to make a train yard jealous.

Thick layers of dirt and cobwebs blanket everything, a musty smell filling the air. The sound of nails quickly scurrying across the concrete floor periodically fills the area only to grow eerily silent again as I methodically move through the building.

Thoughts of Diana are attempting to invade my mind and steal my focus. I try to force them back, knowing that now is not the time to dwell on something that can never and will never happen despite my feelings for her. Clark was right. I'm no good for her.

Everyone that tries to get close to me gets hurt. The incident with Scarecrow almost a month ago only solidifies that fear for me, reminding me that I am meant to be alone despite what my heart keeps trying to tell me. I cannot let my emotions rule over logic or what the past has already taught me about myself and the life that I lead.