Because of You

Chapter 11 - Doing Things the Chloe Way

Murder Number 4 felt like a slap to the Wayne family.

Once again. Yet another murder they couldn't stop.

The ridiculous thing about the murder is that it was committed right outside the premises of Wayne Enterprises or at least, the body was disposed there. Due to this fact, most of the workers panicked and 6th April, today was declared a holiday under grounds of Unnatural Circumstances to ease their minds.

As a results the Waynes were all huddled up in the Bat Cave, engulfed in silence.

The murderer was yet again not caught on camera.

"So she reveals herself, when she wants to be revealed," Dick stated, breaking the silence.

"Guys!" Jason exclaimed, gaining back his lost personality, "I think we all need to do our independent research to find out."

"I need to leave for the Fall Conference right now," Selena commented, timidly.

"I thought it was cancelled," Helena questioned.

"No, it wasn't," she shook her head, "Besides, didn't you want to meet Chloe?"

"I don't think that would be relevant right now," Bruce stated, rubbing his temples in exhaustion, "Right now, this case is more important."

Damian and Jason were quick to protest, "What do you mean, not important?" Jason questioned, "Wouldn't you want to know what happened in Paris? Why would Marinette have witnessed so many deaths?"

"Jason, we are in the middle of a crisis," Bruce argued, in frustration, "Do you realize that the LJ Killings are going out of hand? She went as far as dumping a body in our waste bin and we don't even have a picture of her face or to a minimum her identity or maybe her purpose. Yes, Barbara did give us a wonderful theory, but we have no evidence. It's all going around what-if's!"

Bruce took a deep breath, "I'm not denying you from finding out, just not right now, please. We have one case to solve. Only then can we move to the rest."

Jason relent, although he grumbled a disagreement.

Feeling satisfied at getting his point across, Bruce was going to continue until he was yet again interrupted by another. 

Iris countered, "I have a feeling that this case has a lot to do with Paris."

Everyone turned to the blonde, who was gazing intently at the messages the killer left behind.

"Who let you here, Iris?" Tim protested, "You need to rest."

"I'm pregnant, not dying, you imbecile!" she glared and they knew that her hormones were kicking in.

"So, as I was stating," Iris began, as she walked to the projector and projected the four messages on the whiteboard, "These wordings have been messages or warnings from the killer, right?"

"Yes, Iris," Bruce grumbled, "Stop wasting our time."

This was not meant for anyone's ears, but she heard it and turned livid.

"Oh ya?" Iris seethed, giving Bruce a glare that could even put the infamous Bat-Glare to shame.

Jason whistled as Bruce cowered slightly.

"The killer is not hiding, instead she's  taking credit for the murders. I think she is leaving behind clues, on purpose. She leaves behind only what she wants us to know," she said then picked a marker and underlined certained phrases from the quotes, "I didn't understand the references until I remembered how Damian always traced back the origin of a used weapon back to Europe, more specifically France."