Protector Chapter 12

    The first thing she noticed was the cold. Her entire body was covered in goose bumps. She shivered and groaned, noting the ache in her arms and legs. She could squirm, but that was about it.

    “Easy now,” a deep voice called gently.” You fell awful far.”

    “B--Bat…man?” her eyes slowly opened and closed. She felt like she was covered in a dense fog. Across the cark room, she could make out a wooden table and chairs. The man sitting in the chair sipped from a shot glass and continued to clean his gun.

    “If Batman were here,” David Cain gently wiped a smudge from the gun’s barrel, “this whole thing would never have happened.”

    Batgirl moaned, her thoughts slowly focusing, “You…rigged that room…” The gun clacked as its pieces slid together.

    “Take it easy, Cassandra. You’re still heavily sedated and you know my knots only come undone with a sharp edge.”

    “W--why…”

    “Bird Boy disappeared out of town last night.” Cain stood and holstered his gun, “Probably went crying to Batman. Coward.”

    “L-let me…go…”

    “Two more days. If Robin can’t find you by then, I’m leaving town and taking you with me.”

    “Crazy…”

    Cain’s mouth twisted in a smirk. “Might as well get some rest. You won’t be leaving that chair for some time.



    “Are you sure about this, R?”

    Robin sighed, “For the fifth time, yes. The convenience store only confirmed David Cain had escaped Blackgate and put his name on the police bulletin. I’ve got nothing from the crime scenes. I’m out of options. I need a fresh set of eyes.”

    “But…HIM?”

    “Nightwing said he was safe. It’s not like I have much of a choice.”

    “You could always ask B.”

    “R out,” he cut the connection, stifling a growl. Oracle always knew the wrong things to say at the right time. He wasn’t interested in talking to Bruce, getting another lecture, another explanation of why Tim Drake wasn’t good enough.

    Robin squirmed, growing increasingly impatient. Where was this guy? He always came home before dark and now the sun would be rising in a couple hours. Maybe someone finally killed him. The Boy Wonder’s nose twitched as he admitted that news wouldn’t send him into mourning.

    Two pairs of feet padded up the cheap staircase. A woman giggled as keys jangled in the lock. As the door swung open, two bodies nearly fell in the musky room. The woman, pretty and blonde burst into another fit of giggles at her stiletto caught on her sequin dress. Her date, on the other hand, froze beside her. He gently helped the blonde to her feet and eased her behind him. He glared at the masked figure partially hidden by shadows.

    “This is private property,” he announced, his voice arrogant and high-pitched. “Identify yourself before I summon the authorities to this office.”

    Robin calmly eased into the light, “My name is Robin. I was hoping for a consultation. That is what you do now, right? Private Detective Edward Nygma?”