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Post by dragonbat on May 26, 2009 20:16:52 GMT -5
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Post by dragonbat on May 26, 2009 20:17:24 GMT -5
Curtain Call
Writer: Batkid
Cover: Steve Howard
Editor: Ellen Fleischer |
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Post by dragonbat on May 26, 2009 20:18:22 GMT -5
“Do you know what happened?” Batman inquired, his voice raspy.
The man was already shaking his head despondently. “No, I don’t. She was fine, the performance was going perfectly.” He still looked as though he couldn’t believe it had happened. “And then she was gone.”
“She didn’t seem odd before?” Batman asked.
“A bit,” Andrei replied. “She looked ill, but I figured she was exhausted from the performance. She tried to hide it, and Vera is—was—a great actress... but she couldn’t hide anything from me,” he finished with a small, pained smile. “That is, not for long, and then she—” He put his head in his hands and moaned. “What have I done?”
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Post by dragonbat on May 26, 2009 20:20:55 GMT -5
“Robin,” Batman muttered into his mike. “Did you catch that?”
“Yep,” Robin replied. Batman could just see the tip of the Boy Wonder’s cape swirl in front of the window before the teen pulled it back. “It’s all on tape.”
“Ivanov,” Batman rasped. “Why?”
The man rubbed his hands across his face tiredly. “Why what?”
“Why did you kill her?”
Ivanov lowered his hands and stared blankly at Batman. “I didn’t kill her. I told you that.” He grew angry. “I keep telling everybody that. I would not kill my wife!” He slumped back in his chair, looking defeated.
Batman’s expression didn’t change. “You just sounded pretty guilty to me,” he told him. “'What have I done?’”
Ivanov shook his head. “I did not mean that I killed her,” he clarified. “I only meant that I shouldn’t have—assisted. Not helped kill her,” he explained quickly. “But pushed it forward, perhaps—maybe,” his voice broke. “Maybe, I could have stopped it.”
“You pushed this murder forward—how?”
Ivanov sighed. “Vera has been—had been—angry, recently. A little mad, very depressed. She does—did—not like touring, traveling all the time. She wanted a quiet life. This showed clearly; just lately, she was getting into fights with people in the company. A costume made too large, once, made her very angry with Victoria— Victoria is in charge of costumes,” he elaborated. “She became angry with several other people, and said some things she would not have said otherwise.”
“You think,” Batman stated, “that your wife offended the wrong person.”
Shrugging helplessly, Ivanov said, “What am I supposed to think? I do not know any other reason someone would kill her. Most people in the company liked her. But, as I said, she was very hard to put up with in the end.” His face flushed. “If I had realized, I could have stopped this, maybe.”
“Did you tell this to the police?” Batman asked, his voice scratchy.
“Yes, I told them I thought it was someone in the company. They did not say much, but I know that they think it was me.”
Batman crossed his arms. “So you think it was someone in the company. Anyone in particular?”
“No,” the distraught man replied. His accent became more prominent as his distress grew. “As I told you, she offended several people. She made a few very mad.”
“Like who?”
“Victoria,” the man replied instantly. “Victoria was very mad.” He thought a moment longer. “She said some things to Ms. Kirkson, our chief choreographer, but I do not think she was the one who killed Vera. Vera also made some nasty remarks about Bill and Elizabeth. Elizabeth is one of the ballerinas in the company, and Bill is her fiancé. One of the lighting crew, Thomas, made a mistake with the lights, she said something to him.” He shrugged. “That is all I can think of now.”
“What can you tell me about them?” Batman asked.
“Victoria has been with the company for at least eleven years,” Ivanov began. "Her brother was a stage hand, briefly, but he left about six years ago. Now, he works somewhere in Kansas. Ms. Kirkson has been here,” he waved his hands, “practically since we began. She was a good friend of Vera’s, so I cannot think that she is guilty. Elizabeth has only been a dancer here for a year or so. Bill, her fiancé, used to study ballet, but was in a car wreck a few years ago that shattered his hip. He had several surgeries on it, and went through physical therapy, but was never able to study ballet again. He makes sure he comes to all of Elizabeth’s performances, though. The member of the lighting crew—" he thought. “I do not know how long he has been here. More than a year, probably.”
“You don’t suspect any of them in particular?”
“No,” Ivanov said firmly.
“Then we’re done,” Batman said, going into the hallway. Ivanov sprang from his chair and ran to the hallway, but his uninvited guest had disappeared.
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Post by dragonbat on May 26, 2009 20:27:19 GMT -5
Dick Grayson sauntered into the building. He made directly for the lounge, where he found several people chatting. Most of them smiled welcomingly.
“Mr. Grayson,” a female voice spoke up from his right. He turned slightly and saw Victoria. “What brings you here?” She asked, her smile forced.
“Just passing through and I thought I’d check a few things out.” He lowered his voice conspiratorially. “This new publicity isn’t the kind the company needs right now.”
Victoria stared at him. “What do you suggest?” she asked coolly.
Dick shrugged.
“When you think of something,” she responded, her words clipped, “by all means, let me know. Until then, you’ll have to excuse me—I have costumes to sort.” She turned on her heel and stalked out of the lounge. Several people, who had looked at Dick welcomingly when he had first walked in, now eyed him suspiciously.
“You just had to go and bother her.” An angry voice spoke up from behind. Dick turned, feigning surprise, though he was aware that the man had been there for the past minute.
“I didn’t mean to upset her.” Dick pretended to consider. “Maybe I should go apologize.”
“No,” Bill growled angrily. “You should have left her alone in the first place.”
Dick’s mouth twisted sourly. “It’s my responsibility to manage this company. Because of the... ah... recent incident, there’s been some bad publicity, and—"
Bill’s mouth opened slightly. “'Bad publicity’? Vera was murdered, and all you’re worried about is bad—" He stopped, too angry to continue. A hand slid onto his shoulder.
“Let’s go, Bill,” Elizabeth spoke up. She looked nervous. “Now.” When Dick turned to her, ready with a greeting, she put her hand up. “Not now. I’m sorry.” Grabbing Bill’s hand, she dragged him to another corner of the room. He followed her reluctantly, glaring daggers over his shoulder at Dick.
That is, he corrected himself mentally, I don’t see any that I recognize. I have no clue who the member of the lighting crew Vera offended is.
As he walked out of the room, he couldn’t help thinking of all the times he had hated seeing Bruce adopt a fake personality to gain information. And now, what was he doing himself?
Dick asked around until he found Ms. Kirkland. The pass he had acquired at the front desk was ‘all-access’, an invaluable tool at the moment.
Ms. Kirkland looked up at him in amusement and concern when he walked in. “Well, you’ve certainly made your rounds today,” she began. “Oh, yes, I’ve heard about what you did in the lounge.” She shook her head ruefully.
Dick blushed. “Well, I didn’t mean to offend anyone, I just—" He stopped when the woman waved a folder at him, close to his face.
“Well—" she paused dramatically. “You did.” She cackled.
Dick smiled, unsure. “Maybe I could go—"
Now alone in the middle of the room, Dick could practically feel the resentment emanating from the others in the lounge. He took a quick glance around, but didn’t see any of his other suspects.
“Apologize?” she finished. “Ha, I wouldn’t. You’ve done enough damage.”
Dick was amused by the woman’s openness.
“And if you bother Bill again…” the woman’s eyes twinkled, “well, let’s just say that Elizabeth’s a sweet girl, but if you bother her boyfriend too much, she’s a black belt in karate!” Kirkland laughed again.
“Ah,” Dick said. He winked. “Then I guess I’ll have to watch out.” He glanced at his watch, aware that he was already going to be walking into a business meeting late. “I have a meeting, but, before I go… I’m concerned about the publicity we’re getting from this whole thing.” He threw a hand up before the woman could grow angry like the others had. “Don’t think I’m insensitive,” he rushed, “but an open case like this—the star of the show murdered—well, you can imagine the way the media's hyping this.”
“Yes, I suppose they are,” Kirkland murmured thoughtfully. She snapped from her reverie. “Well, while I do think it's a bit callous of you to bring this up now, it’s your company.”
“I was wondering if you had any suspicions about who could have killed her,” Dick continued. “Like I said, this unsolved case is really hurting publicity, and I’m willing to do anything I can to assist the police in closing it.”
“I imagine you are,” Kirkland responded, shrugging. “But I certainly can’t help you.”
“Then you don’t know anybody who would have had it in for her?”
“Gracious, everybody and anybody could have ‘had it in for her’ these past few months,” Kirkland said cheerfully. "There were so many little provocations."
“Anything in particular?”
“Nothing that could be of any use to you,” Kirkland answered unhelpfully. Dick finally gave up.
“Guess I’ll see you, then,” he said, disappointed. “I’ve gotta get to that meeting.”
“Good-bye, Dick.”
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Post by dragonbat on May 26, 2009 20:30:17 GMT -5
“Kirkland,” Batman whispered.
The woman set down her book and took a sip from her tea. “Gracious, it’s about time. I wondered when you would show up. My,” she said, peering over her glasses. “You’re even taller in person than I thought.”
Batman masked his surprise. “You were expecting me, then?”
“Of course,” Kirkland responded breezily.
“Why?”
“You’re the world’s greatest detective, aren’t you? Hunting down clues, interrogating suspects… questioning witnesses.”
“Are you saying that you’re a witness?”
“Did I say that?” She pretended to consider. “No, I don’t believe I did. Look, Batman,” she said. “I know who did it. Or, at least, I think I do. You obviously have your own suspects, or you're narrowing that list down, anyway—you’re trusting me.”
“I’m not ruling anybody out—or trusting them.”
“No, I suppose not,” she murmured thoughtfully. “But either way, you think I can help.”
“You spend a lot of time near the stage as part of your job. I could use your assistance in this investigation.”
“What do you want me to do?”
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Post by dragonbat on May 26, 2009 20:34:01 GMT -5
“What’s the plan?” Robin asked.
“The plan is,” Batman replied, “we lay a trap.”
“What kind of trap?”
“Make him think we know who murdered Vera.”
“Do we know who murdered Vera?”
Batman smiled and shook his head. “Not yet. I have my suspicions, but I won’t know for sure until tonight.”
“What’re we doing?” Robin asked as the Batmobile neared the building.
“Kirkland’s our bait. She ‘found’ startling evidence backstage today and got excited, but wouldn’t show anybody. Then, she promised a dancer that she’d be at the building tonight working at mapping the ballerina’s steps.”
“So, she let it be known that she has evidence and that she's staying late at the building tonight... alone?”
“Yes. She is putting the ‘evidence’ in her purse. All she has to do is act like she has something in a tissue, in order to protect it from fingerprints.”
“Sweet.”
“Here we are,” Batman announced, parking the Batmobile in a nearby alley. “Let’s go.”
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Post by dragonbat on May 26, 2009 20:36:50 GMT -5
Lounging in a camping chair going over paperwork, Kirkland studied her notes, seeming completely unconcerned. The only light in the vast room came from a small lamp she using to read. Batman crouched, still as a statue, behind a large crate. Above him, on the catwalk, he saw the silhouette of an arm raise once, then drop quickly. Batman took a deep breath when he saw Robin’s signal and, walking a few steps forward, flipped over the box. A shadowy figure whirled around before running the opposite direction. Above him, Batman could hear Robin’s quick footsteps on the catwalk. There was no need for secrecy now. Turning the corner, Batman pursued the figure, only to see the person’s foot fly toward him. Batman backpedaled, even as the toe of the foot brushed his jaw. As the person was recovering, Batman leaped forward in a tackle. There was a moment's struggle before the shadowy figure slipped out. In the darkness, Batman could barely see. The lenses in his cowl began to shift automatically to night-vision, but took a few moments to make the shift. Several feet ahead of him, he made out the figure heading towards the wall in a full-out run.
“No!” Batman shouted involuntarily as the figure’s arm swept upwards, flicking on several switches. All around him, bright stage lights flicked on. Batman ripped the goggles off his face and stood still for a moment, unable to see. He wiped away the tears that had involuntarily sprung to his eyes, blindly stepping forward.
“Watch out, Batman!” he heard Robin's yell from somewhere above him. Robin’s voice masked the footsteps of the shadowy intruder. Batman didn’t hear the person until he was standing right beside him. He stepped away quickly, but not in time to avoid a blow to his cheek. Stumbling backwards, he blinked rapidly, trying to regain his vision.
“Oof!” someone grunted to his right as a loud thump sounded. He whirled in that direction, prepared for a fight.
“Robin?” he called.
“Here,” he heard the boy groan, surprisingly close by. Now, Batman could see vague shapes, and could make out two people on the floor, several feet ahead of him. Robin must have leaped down on top of the intruder.
Slowly regaining his vision, Batman lunged forward just as the figure escaped Robin’s grasp, throwing the teen onto his back. Only a few feet from the vigilantes, the person turned toward them, and Batman could see that he was wearing a mask. Batman, guessing that Robin’s vision would be just as bad as his own, stepped forward. In front of him, the intruder suddenly twirled into a graceful series of interconnected moves.
Slowly regaining his vision, Batman lunged forward just as the figure escaped Robin’s grasp, throwing the teen onto his back. Only a few feet from the vigilantes, the person turned toward them, and Batman could see that he was wearing a mask. Batman, guessing that Robin’s vision would be just as bad as his own, stepped forward. In front of him, the intruder suddenly twirled into a graceful series of interconnected moves.
“Batman!” Robin shouted, backpedaling quickly. “That doesn’t look like karate. What is it?”
“You’re right Robin, it’s not karate. Or judo, or tae kwon do.” He squinted through the eyeholes in the cowl. “It’s ballet. And if I’m not mistaken, this guy is..." he plowed into the person and ripped off the ski mask, “...Bill!”
Robin ran forward to help subdue the man thrashing in Batman’s grasp. He locked a set of bat-cuffs onto Bill’s wrists while Batman held him.
“Why would Bill kill Vera Ivanova?” Robin asked.
“She said some nasty things to him, Robin,” Batman answered. “Isn’t that right?” He asked Bill.
The criminal glowered furiously but didn’t answer.
Kirkland looked over her glasses at the group from her chair, where she had watched the fight calmly. She began perusing her paperwork again. Robin nodded to her as Batman dragged the struggling Bill outside.
“Thanks, ma’am. Looks like you’re all done here.”
“Oh, gracious, no,” Kirkland said. “I’ve got mountains of paperwork to do, and I might as well do it here as anywhere else.”
Robin grinned at her before following after Batman.
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Post by dragonbat on May 26, 2009 20:37:38 GMT -5
“So, I still don’t get it—what made you think it was Bill?” Robin asked.
“Firstly, his motive—anger at Vera. You heard Ivanov; some of what Vera said was pretty nasty. Secondly, if you remember, Ivanov told us that Bill used to study ballet, until his accident. And that’s what he was fighting us with—ballet. The person we were fighting was obviously too big to be one of the ballerinas, like Elizabeth.”
Robin looked skeptical. “I still can hardly believe that he fought with ballet.” He wrinkled his nose. Batman smirked.
“It was pretty effective. Maybe you should take it up.”
Robin winked. “Only if you do.”
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Post by dragonbat on May 26, 2009 20:44:02 GMT -5
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