Questionable tactics - part 7

Read Part 1 - here

Read Part 2 - here

Read Part 3 - here

Read Part 4 - here

Read Part 5 - here

Read Part 6 - here

_________________________________________________________________________________

***

The abundant trees that lined the sprawling Manor gardens thickly foliaged just a week ago had now begun turning a rust color hue of orange tan. 

It was business as usual for leaves to begin shedding themselves from soon to be bare branches, and did so with a trembling chill, as the weather had begun to assume that typically unfriendly autumnal nip urging saner elements of humanity to either stay indoors and nurse a steaming mug of tea, or head out and catch a flu.

‘At least we’ve established a motive here, Alfred’ Nightwing spoke while donning his suit.

‘Bruce is setting up a chemical plant outside of Gotham’ he continued and that must’ve involved murdering a whole lotta trees, and that really irks eco-terrorists like poison ivy’

‘So it would seem’ I was pensive and still trying to add things up. Like puzzle pieces clues lay strewn all over, it was only a matter of putting them together to form something of a coherent picture, which still eluded me.

If Poison ivy did it, and she does have a hand in this as established by the presence of bufotenin sourced be her then how does master Jean come in picture? and what about the cat? Why did Michel Marc’s cat end up in this manor? More to the point, why was master Jean lying about it? There were indeed many questions, but few that could be readily answered.

‘If I didn't know you better Alfred, I’d say you look perturbed’ Nightwing’s optimism was most uplifting for I was brooding or rather trying to recall any item in recent news related to any uproar caused by environmentalists or ecologists or even so called eco-terrorists on the setting up of new chemical plant and there had been none. 

‘Alright Alfred, I’m making a quick exit for a long stake out, reporting as and when. You going to talk to the kid?’

I nodded and affixed the almost invisible communication device to my ear as Nightwing did the same following which he abruptly disappeared.

‘Mr., sir, Mr. Pennyworth’ master Jean’s anxious stuttering seemed almost frantic if a little silly as I loomed in front of him. 

This is the thing with surprise visits, they are extraordinarily surprising.

I’m not an intimidating man, but I can on occasions let my presence felt and though there wasn't the need to do so right now, I did still, for I did not wish to be lied to again, and it’d been almost three days, this matter needed putting rest to.

Master Jean was staring at me wide eyed while I established myself comfortably in a swinging chair inside his room.

Wordless he sat on the bed opposite and stared at me while I scanned his room with a cursory glance. 

Master Jean was a messy child, his room verified that theory with enough demonstration of haphazardly lying clothes piling atop every piece of furniture, mugs cluttering his sleeping space and study area while he sat still dressed in the same clothes master Dick had dropped him the day before.

Before he could say anything I spoke bringing frigid calm into my voice ‘Master Jean, you are going to truthfully tell me everything you know about the whole incident that happened at Wayne manor on the night of the party. 

Before you say anything let me assure you that I’m aware of the cat’s identity, that he is in fact your father’s cat.’  

The changes brought about on Master Jean’s face after the last sentence were oddly satisfying. There was an unctuousness to his demeanor that dried into a hardened worry and paralyzing fear crippled his expressions.

‘How?’ he cried. ‘Does my father know about it?’ 

‘Not yet, but he will soon if you do not proceed with the truth.’ I said with a blank expression that no doubt startled him and he was, I could see, shaking.

‘Now let’s start with that cat’ I smiled.

‘Alfred, Alfred come in’ Nightwings voice hummed into my earpiece while I was driving back to Wayne manor.

My meeting with Master Jean was concluded, and the mystery was now resolved.

‘There are a good many things I’ve found here Alfred. For starters Poison Ivy aka Ms.Isley isn’t even here. I found some faxes and print outs. Looks like she’s headed..’

‘To Brazil’ I smiled with smug satisfaction, I’m loathe to confess. 

‘Yes, how did you know?’ Nightwing almost shrieked with surprise. ‘Ok don’t tell me now. Guess what else I found? 

This entire bufotenin business and incurred expenses were paid for by a trust fund called ‘Isabeli trust fund’ and that this trust fund was paid off huge amounts, and Alfred I’m talking huge amounts as compensation by the French conglomerate that Wayne industries has set up chemical plant with’ 

‘These are most enlightening unravellings’ I was contented to concur. ‘Most uplifting’ I said.

‘You are in a good mood. Alright, there’s also a photograph here, a large group pf people and there’s one person here apart from Pamela Isley who looks most familiar, though I can’t exactly pin-point where I’ve seen this face. I’m taking pictures and heading straight back home. See you soon. over.’ 

‘Is this a new tea?’ Master Dick was sniffing at the contents of his cup

‘It is an orange peel infusion to the regular Assam you so like Master Dick’ I looked up from the pictures Nightwing had taken in Poison Ivy’s house. 

‘Well, I like it’ Master Dick smacked his lips with approval

‘As I was saying’ I continued ‘master Jean had sneaked in the cat much against the knowledge of his parents to the party and the cat escaped while he was in the smoking room’ 

It was now master Dick’s turn to raise eyebrows ‘and what exactly was that kid doing in that room?’

‘Why Master Dick’ and I smiled if only to perplex him further ‘he was placing that little glass full of bufotenin toxin’

‘What?’ master Dick almost dislodged the contents of his cup.