Finally, he stopped at the corner of the intersection, right under the signs that said EASTHAM and WICKER, and studied each of the buildings.
Nothing seemed remarkable, at least at first glance. The cluster of police cruisers and blockades were long gone, the broken glass and bullet shells cleared from the streets, and it seemed almost as if nothing unusual had happened here. But the skid marks on the ground remained—deep black angry lines—and the Bellingham building still bore the charred scars from the explosion and fire. A maze of wooden scaffolding now covered up most of what had been damaged, new windows and bricks in a half-finished state, and a chain-link construction fence draped with black tarp now surrounded the property, hiding the bottom floor from view.
He walked slowly around the corner, taking in the details and remembering what had happened here. The police blockade, the speeding getaway car. The gunfire, the explosion that destroyed the building.
The Nightwalkers destroy their victims’ legacies.
Bruce stopped when he made his way to the intersection, then turned. Here, he could finally see the name of the storefront painted on the brick lining the second story: BELLINGHAM INDUSTRIES & CO.
He crossed the street and made his way over to the building. Above the chain-link fence, he could see the chips in the brick that had worn away over time, the history embedded in the walls of this place. He walked quietly along the barrier, searching for something, anything, that might be unusual. The minutes ticked by.
Until a voice from behind startled him.
“Bruce.”
Bruce whirled to come face to face with Dianne.
He let out a breath and leaned against his knees. “For chrissakes!” he swore. “Could you have been a little quieter about following me?”
“I’m the one who surprised you?” she exclaimed, holding her arms out wide and answering with a swear in Tagalog that he couldn’t understand. She really is upset, he thought. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Bruce sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Is Harvey with you?”
“I made Harvey save our spots. Now, tell me what’s going on with you. You’re attacking Richard, you’re wandering off alone to the crime scene where you got into trouble—come on, Bruce!”
“Nothing. I’m just taking a look.”
He met her withering glare. Bruce could tell from the light in her eyes that she already knew he was hiding something from her—it was far past the point when he could continue keeping secrets. Besides, she’d already caught him sneaking around.
“Fine.” Bruce crossed his arms. Taking a deep breath, he began telling Dianne about Madeleine. The first time she’d spoken to him. Her past crimes. Being involved in Draccon’s investigation. He spoke in a rapid, hushed voice, as if someone might overhear him and send word back to Detective Draccon.
When he finished, Dianne’s face had changed from brown to ashen. “I can’t believe they roped you into something as crazy as this. You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“They needed my help.”
Dianne gave him a pointed look. “Listen, let’s say that this girl—who is an unhinged murderer, I’d like to remind us both—was telling the truth. How have the police not found any evidence yet? They combed this street corner for weeks without finding so much as a hint of what the Nightwalkers might have been up to.”
Bruce held up a hand. “And if there’s nothing to find, then all I’ve wasted is a night of my time. But what if Madeleine gave me an honest hint? She told me to pay attention to the north wall. Maybe there’s something the cops missed.”
Dianne leaned forward and squinted at Bruce carefully. “Oh, I get it,” she declared after a moment. “I’ve figured it out.”
“Figured what out?”
“You. What’s up with you—I’ve figured it out.” She crossed her arms and peered at him. “You like Madeleine. You’re all hung up on her.”
“What?” Bruce leaned away from her. “That’s what you got from what I told you?”
“It’s obvious, Bruce. Remember Cindie Patel from seventh grade? You were wild about her—remember when she lost her grandmother’s bangle during lunch, and you skipped five lunches after that just to look for it?”
“Hey, I found that bangle.”
Dianne clapped her hands twice. “Focus, Bruce! You always need to be the white knight, and now you’re obsessing over a random hint from this girl to the point where you’re willing to risk your probation. It’s the exact same thing.”
Bruce gave her a wry look. “Except I knew Cindie Patel because she sat next to me in Biology, and I know Madeleine because she’s in jail for three murders.”
Dianne waved a hand in the air. “Details. You know what I mean.”
Madeleine materialized again in Bruce’s thoughts. Maybe she’s right. But that made no sense at all. “Look, I’m here because I want to be,” he said, firmly this time. “That’s it.”
“Whatever. You know, Harvey would be pissed at you if he found out this is what you’re up to right now. And he’s got a point, Bruce. Sometimes you should trust the police to do the right thing. If Draccon finds out you’re snooping around like this, they might even extend your sentence.”
Always curious, aren’t you? He shook his head, trying to shake Madeleine’s words out of his head. “How about this: if I find nothing—”
“If we find nothing.” Dianne shrugged at him. “I’m involved now. I can’t just leave you here.”
Bruce glared at her, but she didn’t look away. “Fine. If we find nothing, I promise I’ll never do this again. Ever. But you can’t tell anyone else about this. I’m serious.”
Dianne scowled at him. “You owe me one, for making sure you don’t get yourself killed.”
At that, Bruce gave her a wry smile. “All right, all right. I owe you one. Thanks for looking out for me. And hey—Lucius is throwing a huge gala in a couple of weeks, to demonstrate some of WayneTech’s drone security technology. Do you want to come with me and make sure I don’t get myself killed?”
Dianne gave him a sideways look. “Really?”
“It’s pretty fancy.”
“Will they be serving good food?”
“The best,” Bruce promised.
She considered for a moment with pursed lips. “Okay,” she said. “Sounds like a plan.”
Bruce gestured to the corner of the block. “Stay over here, by the frame of that doorway. There. You’re not so conspicuous now. Keep a lookout for me. If I’m not back in thirty minutes, call someone.”
“Fine. But only if you stay on the phone with me the entire time.” Dianne took out her phone and tapped it twice. “And if it actually takes you longer than thirty minutes, I’m sending every cop in Gotham City after you.”
“Fair enough.”
Bruce headed away from Dianne and back along the fence. It wrapped all the way around the building without a single break, leading him right back to where he had started. He paused after another round, rubbing his eyes from staring so hard at the building.
What was he looking for, anyway?