Bruce Wayne

Chapter 40: Lucius Fox

Not having a crowd of reporters and photographers waiting for him this time, Bruce had Alfred drive around behind Wayne Enterprises and park in the employees only parking garage. He and Alfred took Bruce's private elevator up to his office. Alfred busied himself with looking over the available books on the shelves lining the walls while Bruce picked up the phone and dialed the number for an office extension.

"Hello," Bruce said when his call was answered. "I need to speak with you in person. Would you drop by my office? Good. See you in a few minutes."

Bruce hung up the phone but couldn't bring himself to sit down behind the large desk by the window. The same nervousness he'd felt before jumping out of a plane was coming back to him. He was about to take another dangerous leap of faith, but this time, he didn't have a parachute. If his trust was misplaced, everything he'd worked for could fall apart. It all depended on the loyalty of one man.

A buzzing sound emitted from the intercom on his desk, and Bruce pushed the button to answer it. "Yes?"

"Mr. Fox is here to see you, Sir," the feminine voice of his secretary reported.

"Thank you; send him right in," Bruce instructed. "Hold all calls and see we are not disturbed."

Bruce released the button on the intercom and turned to face the door as Lucius Fox entered the office.

"How can I help you, Mr. Wayne?" Lucius asked, closing the door behind him.

Bruce pulled out his small disruptor and switched on the hockey puck shaped device to jam any listening devices that might either be in the room or on his guest.

"Worried about bugs, Mr. Wayne?" Lucius questioned.

"I need your help with something," Bruce admitted. "I can't take the chance of an information leak. Have a seat."

Lucius glanced over at Alfred before taking one of the two chairs opposite Bruce's desk. Bruce stood behind the high back chair of his desk, leaning his forearms on the top of it.

"Don't worry about Alfred," Bruce assured Lucius. "He knows what I do about this. Mr. Fox, I'm planning to clean up Gotham of crime and corruption, and I need your help to do it."

"Exactly what did you have in mind, Mr. Wayne?" Lucius asked. He folded his hands in front of him and propped his elbows up on the armrests.

"I have a device similar to a combination between a grappling hook and a harpoon gun," Bruce explained. "I can fire the grapple gun and ascend up multiple floors, but getting down is a problem. Alfred and I tried to put together something like a gliding cape, but the tech is a little beyond our available skill set."

"I think I can help you out," Lucius agreed. "Follow me to my office. I want to show you a few things."

Bruce was slightly stunned at how easily Lucius accepted the information Bruce had imparted to him. When he reached to pick up the disruptor, Lucius shook his head and waved him away.

"Don't bother with that, Mr. Wayne," Lucius told him. "I've got more advanced stuff in my office. I can even give you a better listening device than the one you left under the table in the board room."

Bruce's eyes widened at the offhand comment.

"I have to compliment you on its placement, Mr. Wayne," Lucius continued. "Didn't notice you put it there, but I found it afterwards. Ever since I discovered the bug, I've been considering what you might really be up to with the money you've been spending. Someone who bugs the board room of his own company isn't likely to engage in frivolous activity, so I've been wondering what your true objectives were."