Questionable tactics- part 3

Read Part 1 - here

Read Part 2 - here

***

It was time we had a few words with Master Jean, for it was important to know exactly what had conspired that led to his presence in that room, why he’d ingested that drink and another burdening questioning that I couldn’t shake off, and it troubled Master Dick just as much was the presence of cat hair in the glass.

‘You look in much better health Mater Jean. Would you like some lunch?’

‘Uh, uh thank you Mr., um sir, Mr.’

‘Pennyworth’ I brought forth a friendly smile to ease little Jean.

He didn’t look to be any older than perhaps thirteen or fourteen, assailed by adolescence bred gawkiness; a few acne marks and a new pimple on the cusp of blossoming dotted his nose. His hair were done conservative at best and last night’s trauma did little to bring color to his pale cheeks. 

I realized how closely he resembled his mother, though the long chin was clearly inherited from his father.

‘Why were you in the smoking room kid?’ master Dick wasted no time in coming to the point, bringing that same steel in his voice, just enough to scare Master Jean in keeping nothing hidden.

‘I, I..I came with my parents last night’ Master Jean spoke in a resigned tone, both embarrassed and worried.

‘It was boring, everyone was so old. My parents were busy with Mr. Bruce, discussing golf and chemicals’

It was my turn to speak at noticing Master Dick’s raised eyebrows.

'You see Master Dick, Michel Marc and his wife Bubs Marc have visited the Manor a few times since Wayne industries signed a joint venture with the largest French conglomerate. They are I believe setting up a chemical plant near Gotham and apart from their participations in board meetings they’ve also formed a personal alliance in favor of friendship which mostly features golfing.

‘There was nothing to do’ continued Master Jean ‘and so I tried to get lost in the big house and even that was kind of boring, until I saw a little cat in the garden who was scratching at a closed window and looked like it wanted to get inside. Maybe it was cold. So I thought of helping it out by reaching that room from inside and letting the cat in. That’s where I saw a small glass full of green drink. I’d never drank before’ Master Jean was red with shame and hesitated to speak anymore

‘So you drank what you could get your hands on. Those aren’t very good etiquettes Jean’ Master Dick’s voice has softened a tone, no doubt out of pity.

‘No..I didn't drink it all. I mean I couldn’t. It tasted so bitter and my throat felt hot, like it’d catch fire and suddenly everything went blurry. The last thing I remember was seeing clocks and I don’t remember anything until this morning. I, I’m sorry.’  Master Jean burst into tears at this point and it didn't feel right to reprimand him any further.

He was left in his room to rest while our restlessness had only just begun.

‘Well, that explains the open windows in the smoking room and cat hair in the drink Alfred’

‘Yes Master Dick, except there aren’t any cats known to live anywhere near the Wayne manor’

‘Cats are sly creatures, Alfred. They can reach places without being as much as noticed’

‘Especially when they’re trained to do just that Master Dick’

‘Are you implying what I'm thinking?’

‘It could be so. I have dry cleaned your costume in case you might feel the need for it anytime soon Master Dick’

It was during early evening that Master Bruce had rung in to inform that no one need wait for him at night, which was the most opportune moment to get on with a little plan master Dick and I had devised to get to the bottom of this mystery.

The little wireless walkie which was in fact a super computer connected to Gotham grid on phantom mode had begun chirping, shadowing every phone call made by anyone in Gotham, tracing that one voice we hoped to find, while I was connected to the traffic satellite, getting live visual data, tracking every move of every citizen who could be tracked, trying to zero in on our prime suspect.

‘Alfred’ Nightwing’s voice spoke out of the radio set on our communication frequency

‘I found her. She wasn’t home, but I had only to follow a cat exiting her apartment’

‘Very good master Dick. That was indeed resourceful. Do you have a visual of her?’

‘Yes, she’s having dinner’

‘Mayhaps we wait until the lady has concluded her supper. It’s only good manners to not interrupt someone at their dinner table’

‘Won’t be necessary Alfred. She’s dining at one of Wayne hotels’

‘Oh’

‘With Bruce Wayne’

‘Oh dear’

‘Im coming back Alfred. Over’

This turn of events or rather twist in the plot was decidedly unforeseen. Master Bruce was indulging in a repast with Selina Kyle and wouldn't be back till next day. It wasn’t difficult to conjecture but it didn't make sense. Something didn’t add up. I was still brooding on these thoughts after checking up on the well being of our young guest, who had wisely taken his medication and was sound asleep, when the phone rang.

‘Alfred I will be coming back home after all’ It was Master Bruce.

‘Nightwing, Master Bruce is coming back home’ It was my endeavor to instantly deliver this message to Nightwing, for time was of the prudence.

‘Is he now? Well that changes things. I’m going to follow the cat back to her apartment then. Maybe she’ll have some answers. Don’t wait up for me Alfred’

Among other things that needed done that day appraising the security measurements of Bruce Manor were of paramount importance.

Open windows of a smoking room, presence of cats, a young sick person in the guest room and presence of cat hair in poisoned drinks did little to boost confidence in what had been an impenetrable fortress mounted on a perfected surveillance and watertight security measure adopted by Wayne manor for years now. 

To think that it could be easily infiltrated by catwoman who wasn't even in the house on the night of the dinner was a thought that did little to alleviate confidence. Or was she?

Selina Kyle as charming a young lady as she was, was a veteran at masquerading. Did she sneak into the house under the ruse of some other guest? As impossible as that thought sounded in my head I wasn't able to disallow it.

Life, that day seemed to be overflowing with ominous events.