CHAPTER 47: Part 1 "Wrath Of An Titan"

*GPCD Major Crimes HQ, A Few Minutes Before The Attack

The night was fairly quiet with most of the Major Crimes detectives already gone and only a few late-night staff and crew still working.

The entrance of Major Crimes was narrow with only a few yards separating the front desk and hallways to the rest of the building from the entrance doors. The front desk was the same style as most GCPD stations, raised so officers on duty would look down on people checking in, and made of thick wood. It gave the appearance of an old police sitcom. However, while such was kept as part of the historical original decor of the building, it had been updated with a thick bulletproof glass that separated the officers from the front desk to the entrance lobby. The original oak doors that blocked the entrances to the hallways leading deeper into the building had been replaced with ballistic glass and metal detectors. If one were to look closely they would also see divots made in the ceiling that could bring down metal gates locking the building down.

These changes and updates had occurred a few years before, after GCPD moved its main headquarters closer to City Hall, and Major Crimes took control.

Near midnight the staff in charge of the entrance rotated out, Officer Jenkins being the one taking charge of the desk, with two other officers watching the entrance and a few others working behind him on documents.

Jenkins was a older heavy-set man, black-skinned, bald, and a massive mustache. His fellow officers often joked about him being the only walrus serving in the GCPD. Which for the good-natured officer was fine and often got a laugh. Jenkins had never been too interested in promotion and preferred the desk and security duties positions that the GCPD offered. A career of over 35 years had taught him where his comfort zone was and that if he kept his head down he would retire with his pension and move out of Gotham to somewhere warm.

Thus his enthusiasm and laid-back attitude when guarding the front desk at Major Crimes. It was rare to have anyone enter Major Crimes this late that weren't detectives or other officers but the public could technically come to the front desk. This was an allowance primarily because many informants would come at these hours to avoid others seeing them. Otherwise, the night shift was super easy and quiet. Few would dare attack Major Crimes with the amount of police still on the grounds, and it being night meant the Batman was out and about, something no sane and many of the insane wanted to deal with.

Officer Jenkins heaved his heavy frame into the leather officer chair which groaned in protest at his weight, he fell into his typical routine of checking paperwork and occasionally checking his watch to see when his shift would end.

While writing down a few notes about what he should pick up from the grocery store after his shift ended, the front desk phone rang.

Keeping his eyes on his list, he reached over and picked up the landline phone.

"Major Crimes, front desk how can we help?"

A deep voice answered, "Hello? I was hoping to reach one of your detectives."

That caused Jenkins to pause for a moment.

"I am sorry, you will need to reach out to our standard phone operators, I can transfer you there now..." Jenkins said.

"Well, the thing is..." the voice took a hesitating tone, "I tried that line and the operator said to try this number. Normally I wouldn't want to be so bothersome but the detective was insistent I reach out as soon as possible for a case... the Krios case she is working."

The voice finished rapidly and sounded out of breath after the explanation.

Jenkins frowned and he thought it over, "Did the detective not provide a card or contact info?"

"Ah, she did but admittedly I threw it away as soon as she left," the voice said with a guilty tone.

While pondering what to do the voice jumped in again with some urgency, "I know it is late and this is improper... could you at least check in with the detective to see if she has a moment to talk?"

Sighing Jenkins slid his chair over to the front desk computer, "Who are you trying to contact?"

"Detective Rene Montoya," the voice likewise sighed in relief, "Thank you for doing this."

"Ya, ya, ya," Jenkins muttered while looking up Montoya's status.

The computer showed her contact information as well as the fact she had checked into the HQ but had yet to check out. Meaning she was still in the building.

"Alright, please hold as I check something," Jenkins pushed a button putting the caller on hold.

Typing in the landline, Jenkins punched the number for Detective Montoya's desk. The phone rang for a few moments until the detective picked it up.

"Montoya here," the detective's voice said.

"Hi Detective, this is the front desk. I have a caller here who said you wanted him to reach out to you for information about one of your cases." Jenkins explained.

He could almost feel the annoyance on the other end as Montoya asked, "Did they give you a name?"

Jenkins blinked, realizing how he hadn't even asked for a name he quickly said, "No ma'am, sorry, but the caller said they had information concerning the Krios case and..."

"They said KRIOS!" 

Wincing at the shout, Jenkins confirmed, "yes ma'am."

It seemed the detective realized how loud she had said that and in a more measured but still loud tone she said.

"Transfer the call to me now!"

Jenkins shook his head as the Detective hung up. If there was one bad thing about working in the Major Crimes building it was dealing with detectives. Gotham must only attract the insane from both sides of the law.

Shaking his head he clicked the switch to take the caller off hold.

"Alright sir, good news for you. Detective Montoya is available to talk right now, I will transfer you over to her." Jenkins said.

"Ah thank you," the voice said, then saying off-handedly, "I am so lucky Detective Montoya is in the building..."

Jenkins at this point was somewhat impatient to move off the call, "Ya, ya, ya. She is working late, now please hold while I transfe... hello?"

To his surprise, the call had disconnected. Staring at the phone confused, he shrugged before putting it back on the receiver.

'Weird... wonder if we lost reception or...'

SMASH! CRASH! SHATTER!

Jenkins would not be able to finish his thought as the entire front entrance exploded inward from a massive object. 

The 5 seconds between the object flying through the front entrance towards him felt like minutes. The entrance now had a gaping hole with bricks, glass, and wood flying everywhere. The two officers in the entrance were caught completely off guard with the first one getting his head smashed in by the object's wheel and the other officer being squashed by the grill. 

The familiar visage of a traditional American tanker truck with the tank included came hurtling toward his desk.

Jenkins's last words were, "Oh sh..."

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*Detective Rene Montoya, GCPD Major Crimes HQ

As soon as she hung up the phone with the front desk, Rene felt a thrill of excitement and curiosity.

'Someone is willing to talk about Krios... this will be a first... let's not get too excited.'

She was currently at her desk, besides a few other detectives their floor was pretty much empty. It was nearing past midnight so that was no surprise.

Rene had spent the last few nights staying past midnight as she continued to pursue the potential lead that was Jane Coulson and Crystal Martinez. Jane had denied any knowledge of Krios but she was sure that was a lie. One that was deepened when she questioned Crystal.

It was not one of her proudest moments. The woman was obviously in pain and on plenty of narcotics. Anything she said would be inadmissible in a court and defense lawyers would tear apart anything from there. But Rene had intended to just confirm her suspicions that the former and current prostitute knew more than what they said.

She had caught Crystal off guard by waking her and immediately dumping questions on her. And while the crippled woman had denied any knowledge, she was not as good as Jane was at hiding her lies. She pressed hard and fast knowing she didn't have a lot of time. The distress she caused Crystal was necessary she argued, but it didn't change the fact she caused the woman a panic attack that had nurses rushing in to check. She left during the commotion, knowing if she was caught it would be an immediate suspension.

But despite the misgivings and feelings of shame, she was able to confirm these ladies knew so much more than they were admitting.

Which was why she was digging up any information she could about Jane Coulson to try and pressure her. Anything, even a traffic ticket would suit her purpose of getting something on her. Sadly the former prostitution was out as it had passed the statute of limitation. And going after Crystal would be impossible with her condition keeping her in the hospital, what pressure could she apply to a dying woman? Even so, she would find something.

While waiting for the call to transfer she tidied up her physical files of the case on top of her personal laptop. She quickly realized if Bullock or Gordon found her with these files they would put her on leave. So she had made it a point to avoid using her work computer or keeping the files on any server. Just the physical copies and her personal laptop's hard drive had her notes.

Paranoid and risky? Perhaps, but she knew that the Commissioner kept an eye on their computers, as well as the Batman.

No one would take Krios in alive... or dead, but her.

CRASH RUMBLE

A massive loud crash sounded several floors down with whatever the source was shaking the entire building.

The few detectives on the same floor as her jumped up with a few grabbing their service arms and others running to the window to see what the commotion was.

Rene followed them to the window. It was difficult to see from their angle the front but it was sufficient to see various bits of debris. Portions of the front entrance wood and stone work were scattered. And parts of the front seemed to be falling in on itself.

"What the hell is that?!" One of the detectives, Mitchel, said pointing to something sticking out of the entrance.

It was metallic with a rounded tube-like shape denoting a familiar shape to Rene.

A different detective, Cormac said quietly, "It looks like an oil tanker from a truck... shit I think there's a fire breaking out!"

At that moment, fire alarms started blaring startling Rene and the detectives. A few of the detectives began to make their way straight for the stairs and fire escapes. A few others ran to their desks grabbing a few things before making their way to the escape routes.

The two detectives who had made remarks however began making their way to the elevators that led to the entrance. No one remarked on what they were doing assuming that they wanted to check on the officers at the front. Though using the elevators while a building was shaking and on fire did not seem like the smartest idea, Rene thought.

To be fair, Rene normally would have joined them or told them to use the stairs to get to the entrance. But she was focused on gathering her files and laptop. She had no idea what was going on but she was not going to risk what little evidence and clues she had.

Getting back to her desk she grabbed everything she could while trying to ignore the loud screeching alarms. The HQ had stopped shaking but now the lights and other electrics started flickering. Faint hints of the smell of smoke and fire were becoming more pronounced.

'Hopefully, the firefighters will be able to put it out before that tanker blows,' she thought with growing concern.

Making her way to the stairs she passed by the two detectives, Cormac and Mitchell who were waiting for the elevator, it only having a few floors left till it reached them.

The bulkiness of the files and laptop made it a little awkward for her to walk and as she came to the stairway door she tried to balance it all in one hand while trying to open the door.

DING

'Well at least the elevator works,' she thought sarcastically while trying to open the stairwell door.

She heard the elevator doors slide open and a surprised gasp sound from Detective Mitchell.

"Who the f$%k ar..." 

Mitchell's voice became a gurgle followed by the sound of a body dropping. 

Years of training had Rene dropping everything she was holding and spinning toward the elevator doors. Her hands free immediately took out her service piece and pointed directly over to where the detectives were. From her angle, she could not see inside the elevator, just enough that she saw the doors were open.

Mitchell was on the ground gripping his throat, the light flickering made it difficult to see but it looked like he had suffered a deep gash to his esophagus.

Detective Cormac had reacted well at the moment and had her firearm out and began firing right away into the elevator.

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG

With the flickering lights, the room would get illuminated by the muzzle flash of her gun. Strangely, Cormac stopped firing with a look of surprise and fear on her face.

SWISH... BOOM

An incredible burst of air followed by a loud boom hit Cormac straight in the chest and sent her flying back into chairs and desks. Finally crashing into a support beam in the room with a sickening crunch as her body bent horrifically in half.

Rene for the moment did not have time to check on her presumed dead colleague and instead kept her sights on the elevator. Her heart was hammering, her ears ringing from the fire alarm, and any lingering sleepiness from having worked so late was nullified by her adrenaline pumping.

Stepping out of the elevator she was surprised to see a figure, dressed in cloth or rags she could not tell. The figure was wrapped in a dark grey cloak, his head hooded and face covered in the darkness. The lights flickering showed very little as the hood kept his face in the shadows but she thought she could see the figure's face was additionally covered inside the hood with only his eyes showing. Eyes that at first were merely cold and analytical, but at the sight of her began to burn with rage.

Rene seeing that opened fire...