10 Chapter 10: Wayne Murder Case - The Lineup
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"If you really want to be strong… Stop caring about what your surrounding thinks of you!"
– Saitama (One Punch Man)
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This was the first time that Bruce was inside a police station in both of his lives. He was quite curious and nervous at the same time. His nervousness grew even more when he saw the reporters standing outside like hound dogs ready to eat some Bruce Wayne meat. If he for some reason fails to identify Joe Chill, the press controlled by the people truly responsible for his parent's death would brand him as a mentally imbalanced amnesiac patient whose words cannot be trusted by the law and justice department in this case and this case would be finally shut down due to lack of evidence.
This would not only harm his future reputation but could also be used by the potential enemy organization behind the conspiracy of the murder of Waynes to end the investigation completely. Bruce even suspected that if Joe Chill was truly the murderer and if something like the Court of Owls was involved in this conspiracy, then Joe would be killed even if Bruce somehow did recognize him today. He was only a pawn after all. Bruce was even hoping in his heart that the guy gets killed before he could reach the lineup.
"Don't worry. Even if they took my gun, we still have ways to protect ourselves. Also, there are too many cops here for anyone to try anything." Alfred tried to reassure Bruce looking at his worried face.
"No, I was just thinking about Joe Chill. Do you think he would face long-term imprisonment even if I do recognize him today?" Bruce asked as he played with his bat tool since he was bored from all the waiting.
They had not brought Selina with them as both Alfred and Bruce decided not to involve Selina in this mess since this can negatively affect her mental health. Although the decision did make her extremely angry and she even tried to use emotional blackmail on them using her big adorable eyes filled with tears but the duo stood strong on their decision and rejected taking her with them. After all, even if she tried to behave like an adult, she was just a nine-year-old kid right now, much like Bruce, the only difference being she really was nine years old in both body and mind.
"Yes, he would. I would make sure of that. Even if the court can't give us the justice we deserve, I have other contacts. The Wayne family might be good and righteous but it was never weak, it never lacked power or influence. We will get justice, one way or the other." Alfred said as he looked to be deep in thought.
"I see," Bruce replied and continued to play with his bat-tool which was currently in torch mode making sure that nobody suspected it to be some high-tech state-of-the-art weapon.
The cops had searched them and seized all their weapons at the lobby which was only just Alfred's gun. When they saw his torch-shaped bat-tool, they had only thought it to be a weirdly shaped torch perhaps used by the rich who had money to spend on stupid stuff, so they hadn't taken it from him, dismissing it as harmless. Alfred had of course recognized what it was but the butler had wisely kept his mouth shut.
[{Image}]
"Bruce, Mister Pennyworth, we are ready for you now. Please step this way." Jim said as he came up to them. The detective had deep circles under his eyes and looked like he needed a cup of coffee.
'His workload must be really bad. Well again it's Gotham, so...' Bruce thought as he and Alfred followed him. They went to an empty room that was connected to another room where about ten similar-looking people wearing the same orange prisoner jumpsuit were standing, holding different number cards in front of them.
"Now Bruce, carefully look at every one of them and see if you can recognize any of their faces. If you do and if you are sure, just tell me their number. As long as it matches our suspect we are good to go. There is no rush, so take your time. But remember, you only have one try. If you fail, we won't be allowed by law to try again. So, only tell me the number when you are absolutely sure." Jim carefully and patiently explained the process to Bruce.
Bruce took a deep breath and slowly began to look over each of the inmates' appearances, carefully studying their faces and physical features, trying to remember if he had seen a comic book character like them on some Wiki page or you-tube video in his past life. But alas, he remembered absolutely nothing as he went over most of their faces. They didn't look even the least bit familiar to him.
As he finally set his vision on the face of the last man, a man with absolutely nothing special to his looks or features, their eyes suddenly met. At that very moment, Bruce felt something. He felt an intense sensation in his stomach like his guts wrenching, his throat running dry and his body heat rising. Fear? No. It was something completely different. It was anger, anger that he had never felt before in his life, absolute disgust at the human waste standing in front of him.
He didn't need to remember memories about this guy that night. No, Bruce's emotions were enough. The strong undeniable emotions he was feeling were the proof he required to identify the guy.
Bruce's shaking hand moved to the bat-tool on his belt, wanting to shoot the bastard right then and there, an action that was noticed by Alfred.
"Control yourself, master. A Wayne always listens to his heart but he always plans and acts with his mind." The butler placed his hand on Bruce's shoulder and advised as he followed Bruce's line of vision and looked at the man looking back at them with nervous eyes filled with worry.
"Yes, you are right Alfred, like always. Detective Gordon, number ten is the one. He was the one who killed my parents and shot me in that alley that night, the one who told me his name at a moment of carelessness and overconfidence when I was dying, bleeding out on the cold floor with a bullet in my chest. That is Joe Chill." Bruce added for dramatic effect, making sure that no doubt remained in anyone's mind about his iron-clad statement.
"I see. Are you sure?" Jim asked.
"Yes. A hundred percent." Bruce said as he continued to give Joe a death glare.
"That is indeed the Joe Chill we apprehended. Thank you for your cooperation. We will handle it from here. Harvey, would you please escort them outside to take their signatures." Jim said as he gestured to another officer to arrest the original Joe Chill and bring him into custody.
Bruce and Alfred were escorted by Harvey to the lobby again where they completed the remaining formalities which were mainly a couple of signatures. Then the duo left the station for their car, ready to go home.
"That went well," Alfred said sometime later in the car. "Don't worry young master. I'll take care of this matter from here. You have done your part. It's time I do mine. Joe Chill will be going to prison for a long long time, possibly forever."
"I hope so," Bruce muttered but he somehow doubted that. Nothing could be said for certain in an uncertain world like DC. There is always a bigger fish around, always a higher power controlling stuff from behind the shadows.
'As much as I want to kill him, I hope that he survives and the cops can get some intel from him about the real people behind this crime.' Bruce wanted confirmation of the existence of the Court of Owls. Once he did get that, he would be able to plan his steps according to that. 'Although, if he dies in police custody or prison then that would also give me the confirmation I am looking for...'
The rest of the day was uneventful for the entire Wayne family as Bruce just focused on his inventions in his cave to divert his mind and Alfred did his housework like usual after making some calls while Selina either hung out with Bruce or tried to practice gymnastics as she had taken it to be her hobby.
The next morning when the newspaper was delivered to all the homes in Gotham, a single article dominated the entire first page of the most famous newspaper in the city.
– 'Primary suspect in the 'Wayne family murder case' identified by survivor Bruce Wayne to be the killer of the billionaire Wayne couple Thomas and Martha Wayne dies in police custody due to heart attack.'
The article stated that Joe Chill died in police custody after suffering from a major heart attack where medical attention could not be provided in due time. The Forensic scientists assigned to the case had sighted this as a natural death without any outside interference or foul play.
There was even a big picture of Joe Chill's face making it clear in the article that this case was simply a mugging gone wrong and that the Waynes were just at the wrong time at the wrong place.
Of course, most of the people of Gotham ate this right up, except a few which included a small nine-year-old boy silently observing everything, understanding everything and just waiting for his chance, biding for time and making his preparations like a determined hunter. For when a true bat flies, he flies for blood.
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