Bruce Wayne

Chapter 01: Tragedy

The flashing blue and red police lights were the only colors splashed across the decaying tenement buildings. The edges of the streets were choked with trash and old newspapers. The rain had stopped momentarily, but it had left puddles in the oily streets and a glistening sheen over the grime common everywhere in Gotham. The gargoyles on the surrounding structures cast ominous shadows over the city that lay beneath the span of their stone wings.

Lifting the bright yellow police tape, Detective James Gordon inspected the area. The grisly double murder he found was burned into his mind by the bright flashes of the forensic team taking pictures. The brief illumination of the cameras put everything in stark brightness and momentarily turned portions of the darkened streets into day, only adding to the surreal feeling.

"What's the situation?" Gordon asked the local uniformed cop in charge.

"Double homicide," the policeman reported, checking through the small notebook he carried to review the details he'd written down before Gordon's arrival. "Man and woman, both shot at close range. A broken pearl necklace near the woman and the man's missing wallet indicate possible robbery."

"Any way to identify them?" Gordon questioned. He glanced at the two bodies, staring hard when he saw their faces. Even in the dim light, he couldn't mistake his recognition of them. "Good heavens! Don't you know who these two are? They're Thomas and Martha Wayne."

"Are you certain, sir?" the officer inquired.

"Of course, I'm sure!" Gordon replied gruffly. "I've known them for years. Good people, these two. They'd done a tremendous amount of good for Gotham and its people. They deserve better than to be gunned down in a trash strewn alley."

A uniformed police officer came running up to join the group, barely ducking fast enough to avoid being entangled in the yellow tape outlining the crime scene.

"Sir," the cop reported. "I found some movie ticket stubs, and the manager of the Monarch Theater around the corner identified the vics from their description as Thomas and Martha Wayne. He says they were there and left only a short time ago."

"How many were in their group?" Gordon asked.

"Three," the cop replied instantly.

"This is real trouble," Gordon muttered.

"What's the problem?" the first officer questioned.

"The Wayne's have a son," Gordon explained. "With the deaths of his parents, Bruce Wayne stands to inherit everything. That kid is going to be worth millions! Can you understand why someone would want to kidnap him?"

The officer went pale as he realized the target the poor kid would have on his back. Money attracted enemies like blood attracted predators in the wild.

"Alright, listen up!" Gordon commanded. "I want an immediate search started for Bruce Wayne. Contact Wayne Enterprises and see if they can furnish a full description. Call it in as a missing person, possible kidnapping. Move it!"

The police around Gordon scattered in all directions. Remaining where he stood, Gordon raked a hand through his coppery brown hair. He didn't know if they'd gotten the word out in time. Bruce Wayne's life might very well depend on their efforts.

He looked down at the two dead bodies lying on the cold pavement of the alley. Covered in white sheets, spots of red were noticeable in the material as the blood on the remains was absorbed at the contact points.

The passing beam of a police officer's flashlight let Gordon catch a glimpse of something. He raised a hand to stop the cop walking past him, motioning him to relinquish the flashlight. The cop handed it over without question, and Gordon pointed the cone of light toward a nearby dumpster to illuminate the area. Crouched amid the overflowing garbage was a small boy, hugging his knees and crying softly.