Bruce Wayne

Chapter 20: Foundations

Bruce eventually used his cell phone to call Alfred and arrange a meeting at a small cafe where Bruce stopped in for a sandwich. While waiting for the police to clear out of the hotel, he'd missed lunch.

"If I had known about your current state of attire, I would have brought you a clean set to change into, Master Bruce," Alfred said as Bruce climbed into the passenger seat of the glossy black, four door car.

"Sorry, Alfred," Bruce apologized. "I had a lot on my mind, and I didn't really think about it."

"I'm almost afraid to ask how your time with the police went," Alfred mentioned, driving back toward the house.

"There were unexpected developments," Bruce explained. "I went with Gordon to catch a fugitive, but we also ran into a bribe taking judge and a cop who is either covering up for a murderer, or he is one himself."

"Oh dear," Alfred lamented. "Sounds rather dreadful. What are your plans?"

"I'm still thinking about it," Bruce admitted. "I have the gun the killer used, but if whoever is behind all of this can bribe judges, how easy would it be to get to someone working in the police evidence room? A few bills handed over, and the gun vanishes."

"I can see how it would present a problem," Alfred admitted.

"There's more," Bruce informed him. "If there are killer cops in the GCPD, will any of them go after Gordon if he has incriminating evidence on them?"

"Police officers don't have the safest of professions," Alfred replied. "Staging a murder to look like a line of duty shooting might be very easy for them to arrange, and it would prevent any further investigations."

"I don't think we can involve Gordon in this, not yet," Bruce concluded. "I'm fairly certain an armed robbery and our recently captured fugitive are at the center of all this. I need more information to discover anyone else who may have been a part of it before we move against them. If the net drops too soon, some might escape or retaliate."

"The police files might have the information you seek," Alfred pointed out.

"I can't ask Gordon for the files," Bruce denied. "Firstly, he's not allowed to give police files to civilians. Secondly, if anyone is paying close attention, they might notice Gordon looking into the files and think he knows too much. No, Alfred. I'll have to get the files myself."

"I hate to ask, but how exactly do you intend to get them, Master Bruce?" Alfred questioned.

"The GCPD updated its record keeping methods some time back. They now have both paper and digital copies," Bruce explained.

"I don't like where this is going," Alfred commented.

"Sneaking into the police station to appropriate files isn't my idea of the best option either," Bruce admitted. "However, I don't see a better choice. Hopefully, I can get in and out unseen."

"If you wish to avoid notice, I might suggest a less fragrant attire, Master Bruce," Alfred offered in reference to the clothes Bruce had been wearing while squatting in garbage all morning.

Bruce grinned slightly, rolling down his window and allowing some fresh air into the car. "Good idea, Alfred."

                                                                                              ***

Bruce had Alfred drop him off at Wayne Manor before sending his butler to pick up a few things Bruce would need for his unorthodox visit to the police station.