The One-Seven

Chapter 10: Coming Together

The following morning, Percy and Montoya split ways again. The pathologist had called Montoya that morning, to let her know they were ready to do the autopsy on the second victim, the Silver's personal chauffeur. Both her and Percy, expected nothing new to come from the second cut, but one of them needed to present for it regardless. While she was doing that, Percy was running down his only other lead from Selina.

Percy rubbed behind his ear, and he stared up at the sign over the doorway. Kleinman's was a high-end jeweler and boutique on the upper-east side of town. One of the wealthier parts of the city. Surrounded on all sides by upper-class restaurants, salons, and department stores, Percy felt immensely out of place. But this was the only real lead he had on the bracelet, and the last he wanted to do, was get some cape involved in his investigation.

Which was what brought him to Kleinman's. He hadn't mentioned the sum total of the information he'd been given by Selina, to either Gordon or Montoya, he didn't care, the information would all be there in his official report of the investigation. But Percy was bound and determined, to not have to rely on the Bat to break through the case. Only problem was, with every cop in the city looking for Romanji, Percy didn't suspect, he'd have much time to break the encryption.

With a sigh of resignation, Percy pushed open the door to the upper-class establishment.

The bell above the door rang as he entered, the store was as upper-class as Percy had expected it to be. The rows of display cases, held beautiful and ornate sets of jewelry, ranging from simple rings, to necklaces, and even the odd bracelet and band.

Taking a quick look at some of the prices, and Percy nearly spat up the coffee in his stomach.

As Percy approached, an older man looked up from behind the counter. He was in his late sixties or early seventies, with graying hair that sat in small tufts on his scalp. Age lines dotted his aging face, and large nose, and he adjusted a small pair of spectacles as Percy approached the counter,

"Can I...help you sir?" the man asked, not quite able to keep the condensation from his voice.

Percy flashed his badge an identification as he glared at the man, "I'm detective Jackson with the GCPD." he said,

"Is there something I can help with, officer?" the man-judging by the ownership badge on his breast Percy assumed this was Kleinman-turned his nose down at Percy.

Suppressing a snort at the rude man, Percy nodded his head, "I'm working an investigation, and I have been led to believe that one of the parties involved might have been a client of yours."

Percy reached into his pocket, pulling out his phone and bringing up the picture of the bracelet. "Do you recognize this bracelet?"

The man huffed in agitation, but accepted the phone, as Percy slid it across the countertop. He glanced down for a moment, and for just a split second, it looked to Percy as though recognition passed through his eyes. But it disappeared as quick as it had appeared, and the man adopted an apathetic expression, staring dryly at Percy,

"Apologies officer, but I've never seen this piece before. I'm afraid I cannot be of assistance," Percy narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

Percy had to stop himself from rolling his eyes. He'd been through this exact scenario entirely too many times. But that meant he also knew how to handle the situation. Exaggerating a sigh, he ducked his head, and did his best to look regretful,

"Damn," he muttered, but made sure his voice was loud enough to be heard, "This was the last good lead we had on the bastard that killed that little girl." And then Percy turned his back, and made it look as though he were going to dejectedly leave the building.