Dealing with the law

[powermaniac184]

Lisa had recieved a message from the D.A. from the banks that a man named Dick Grayson, someone who as a boy was in the circus hasn't been paying his many loans. Usually, when Brooklyn banks needed help they called Lisa. She had worked with professors on tax law as an undergraduate. Move fast make and impression then make a deal with the man, because he wouldn't want to go to jail.

She walked up the stairs to the apartment carrying a subpoena in case something criminal was involved with the bank. She also carried a message. A message that meant that he needed to pay the banks as quickly as possible before he was sued by the banks, which they would. They had made that damn well clear when they emailed her.

Lisa looked at the address and walked, the apartments were nice, better looking and smelling then Lisa's. Though it seemed quiet. She knocked on the door hoping the man would respond and let her in so that they could talk. A summer jacket on Lisa at the time to keep her looking stylish.

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

It had been a long night for Dick. He had been out patrolling to streets almost until 4am that morning. He had gotten back to his place little after 4:30am. When he had gotten back he had taken a quick shower and changed into a pair of black basketball style shorts and a royal blue t-shirt. He had started on his laptop work shortly after, doing a search on recent transactions going on down by the docks.

Though, he hadn't expected to work on it long and by the time it was 6:30am, he had fallen asleep on the couch with the laptop sitting open. Hearing the sound of someone knocking on his front door, he opened his eyes sleepily. He looked around, then looking down at his watch to see that it was almost one in the afternoon. Babs had probably headed out to work by then at the library.

He jerked himself up, wondering who would be coming to his place at this time of day. He certainly wasn't expecting anyone. Dick shut the laptop as he got up and placed it on the coffee table as he stood up. He glanced over at the crutches that were sitting over by another chair in the living room. He rolled his eyes in an expression that it wasn't worth the time trying to get them at that moment. He made his way pass the kitchen and to the door limping as he went. He kept his weight off his right leg the best he could. The ace wrap was still on it from the knee down. He hoped to soon have the stitches removed from his leg.

It had been a while since the run in with Jane Doe, but there was still pain in his leg. Though he was getting better at getting around lately. Especially with the new brace support he and Babs had designed for the Nightwing suit. When he finally made it to the door, he unlocked it and opened it.

There in the hall was a woman with lighter color red hair than Babs. He looked her over quickly and figured this was not a social visit. She looked familiar, but he wasn't sure exactly who she was at the moment. "Hi, can I help you," Dick asked the woman kindly when he opened the door all the way.

[powermaniac184]

The best way to deal with someone who needs to understand the law is with firepower and reason. Lisa looked into the man's eyes, " I'm Assistant District Attorney Lisa Novak, here's what's going to happen, we will end up at a hearing, and the judge will side with me because you have no defense toward the bank CEO's." Lisa had this statement for many people, only this time she meant it. Lisa walked into the room without his approval, two detectives walking in a few minutes later to make sure the house was safe. With a few minutes they waited outside sliding the glass door and sitting down.

After that she looked around, noticing that the apartment was in good shape. "Nice place in here, it's certainly better than mine." She sat down at the sleek and comfortable couch, taking out a letter and putting it by her side. "Why aren't you paying your loans Mr. Grayson?" The detectives made eye caution and then went back in sitting down around them. "Don't mind the detectives they're just here to ensure a precaution against anything and they here to help investigate the case."
The detectives eyed Lisa and Mr. Grayson

Lisa didn't need help she was a fighter born and raised to not take no for an answer unless that had right outcomes, but the D.A. and Police office couldn't have ADA's being killed off, so they ensured a protection policy, not to mention that it was necessary with the coming darkness and the FBI approaching and taking records that were rightfully the D.A. office ones.

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

Dick merely stepped to the side as the bunch came in. He was a bit surprised when she had explained her reason for being there and what was to happen. She came off right away as a 'there was only one way to solve this'. He followed the group, seeing that the two detectives were here had checked the place over and then went out side on the balcony and sat down.

So, the bank was in on this and was taking action against him. He should have seen that coming. Dick limped his way back over into the living room as The ADA looked at the place and took a seat on the couch. "Thanks," he replied to her comment of his place.

By the time she started to ask a question, Dick had made it back over to a chair a little ways away from where Lisa Novak sat. He saw the detectives come back into the livingroom and take a see as well. He let her finish her explanation before he would set in on his side of the situation.

"Simple explanation, why pay something that has already been paid," Dick replied. He wasn't trying to come of as being smart. But he really had nothing to hide. By what she said, the bank just seemed to be going after him for money he had already paid back.

"There really is nothing to investigate Ms. Novak. I acknowledge that the bank has been sending me notices about payments. But the fact is, I've already paid the money I owed," he added. He was as calm as he could be. There was no need to get worked up over this matter. Now unless she was going to accuses him of some type of crime that could be made into, then he would set up his defenses. But at the moment, there was no need for it. He would give her the chance to have her input on what he had said. He knew this could possible go on for a while. But he was willing to cooperate as long as they didn't try to find away to turn this completely upside down. Though, he had a feeling they would stand by the bank, seeing as they were the ones complaining.

Dick had no reasons for loan payment to go unpaid. He had enough money to take care of that sort of thing. Not that he really cared how much he had, but it did help being a college student and a vigilante. After all, people saw him as the ward of Bruce Wayne. Though the fact was the money had built over time from funds his parents had set up for him long ago. Dick had nothing to hide. Well, except for the vigilante stuff.

[powermaniac184]

Lisa listened to his reponse with intimacy, "So what your telling me is that the banks are cruel bastards forcing you to do something that you haven't paid. Well I checked your bank records, you have missed your mortgage checks for over three weeks, I also checked with the bank records they aren't lying and neither am I. I hope you aren't either. So Dick tell me the real story, I'm not going to arrest you or charge you I want to know what happened." The detectives began eyeing the computer, but Lisa put up her arm not for them to touch it.

The man was healthy looking not to mention he had muscles, but Lisa wasn't a college girl, she was an ADA who never stopped doing her job. Lisa got up and saw a picture of Dick and another boy and two adults. "These your parents?" She stared at the frame, picking up the photo. "It must leave a deep hole whenever you remember your parents and their quickened murder along with your brother." Lisa felt bad for the man now, she was compassionate to people who experienced losses, "I also lost my father, he was a soldier fighting during the Korean and Vietnam war, he couldn't take a life that wasn't worth living. The staring, the mumbled insults, the bank checks threating foreclosure for my mother. Then he committed suicide and left me and my mother. So I know how it feels, all too well."

Lisa looked through her bag and handed Grayson a warrant to search for the bank statements and notices. The detectives who were at the moment listening to Lisa's conversation and somewhat monologue, got up and searched by the kitchen, the desks, finally locating a cabinet with the statements in the past three months. They looked over the statements and filed them in plastic folders for evidence.

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

(ooc: I only have Dick's back story with him just having parents.)


Dick listened to the ADA. At least they weren't going to arrest him for anything. When he saw them looking toward his computer, a thought of worry came into his mind, but he did not allow it to show. Though if they did take the computer it would take an expert to be able to hack through him computer's security systems. Thanks to Babs, the computer had a heavy protection on it over the files that he used and researched cases. Though they were well hidden on the computer, Dick would still not want to see someone trying to go through the computers files.

"No, what I am saying is that I am sure I have already paid those bills a while back. Well, as for the mortgage, I'm not exactly sure on those payments recently, but the loans, I'm sure about. I have all the records of checks I wrote out for the payment of those loans from a few months ago. I have no reason to lie to you," Dick told her honestly.

With everything he had to do, he couldn't be exactly sure what all he may have missed in the last three weeks. With the FBI in the area, Dick was getting more concerned as to what exactly they were planning to do in the city. He knew how some police and the federal agents felt about the vigilantes working on the streets and taking matters into their own hands. So, he did have reason to possible fear what exactly they were up to.

Watching her as she got up and asked him a question, he nodded, "Yeah." He was quiet when she spoke more about how it must feel. "Kind of, I guess," Dick replied. He wasn't one to get into talking about your emotions. Though, he still did at times feel the pain of missing them. Wondering what his life might have been like if all that had happened never had. Dick was grateful for what he had though. But nothing could replace the pain of the lose of his parents. Dick always had been able to try and move on and he had gotten so far since then.

He wasn't about to compare the situations of their lives. He felt there was a difference between things, but they all affected everyone in the same way, leaving people hurt and lost. Wondering why did it happen and what they could have tried to do to stop the whole thing. But Dick had been able to find a different way to fight back in life and not lose himself in his grief.

Dick didn't say anything at that moment, but when she handed him the warrant, Dick took it and looked over it briefly. Were they serious? What was the bank thinking? Dick was starting to see this as the banks way just to try and get more money out of him. He knew he paid those loans back. He had no reason not to.

He was starting to feel like he was being treated like a suspect in a larger crime by the way they were putting his banks statements and notices into evidence bags. At least it wasn't like they were tearing the place apart to look for more notices. If they needed it, he would get them himself. He didn't like the idea of letting some detectives going through his penthouse.

If Babs had been there, she probably wouldn't like them doing this either, but she understood the law point of view better than he did. After all her father was the commissioner of the police. Though, she probably would have questioned him after the whole thing to find out just what he had been falling behind on. There was more to the penthouse with a second floor where his bedroom was with the master bath and kind of a rec. area up there with another couch and tv where and a few shelves with books. The spiral stairs lead up to the rec. area that over looked part of the livingroom.

The large room than ran along side the livingroom was a full training center with all his gymnastics equipment and training area was. And across from the training area was the spare bedroom connecting to another bath that now belong to Babs. There was another room down the hall that he usually keep locked if needed, that was where most of the vigilante stuff was kept. Though, everything was hidden with hidden buttons that some had codes of identity recognition.

"Is there anything else that you might be looking for," Dick replied flatly, not really thrilled with the idea of them searching. There wasn't much he could do about that unless he wanted to look like he was guilt of something. Which he wasn't. He just didn't like having strangers going through his stuff. Especially people that had connections with the police or FBI. He hadn't had to deal with something like this before. And with the FBI in town, he just hoped no one was in town that thought this might be a case worth looking into.

[powermaniac184]

Lisa spoke after he was waiting for her response with haste, "So what your saying is that the bank ceo's are responsible, that they're corrupt. Well, I can charge them with fraud, if your willing to testify, I'll need more records, emails. Would you like to make a statement about it?"

The detectives exited the room and came back a few minutes later waiting for Lisa to finish. Lisa looked back, her hair following every movement. When they got back she woud be getting a court order for detectives to search and retrieve the emails that were sent between Grayson and the bank officials because a court case was coming up. If Lisa had had enough she could hand the file and evidence to the other lawyer who was new and experienced to say the least.

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

"I'm not sure there is much else I can do. Unless you have any other suggestion as to how to go about this," Dick replied. He wasn't all that trilled about the idea of having to appear in court. He didn't like the idea of more people trying to find out about this stuff.

People around here liked to dig for dirt. And Dick did not want this to get into the public's view. It was a private matter. There was no reason for all this to be going on. It was bad enough the bank had been going after him. But now to have the ADA and police involved, there had to be something deeper than the police hadn't looked at themselves. Or at least not yet.

If the police were going to side with the bank, maybe it was time for Dick to do some research and some digging of his own. And Nightwing was always up for another case anyways. Even if it was just mainly a paper trail he needed to find.

[powermaniac184]

"Listen, I will prosecute the bank, I'm not the police, I represent the people. I believe you, but the evidence needs to be clear enough that the bank would stop sending you letters. I'll make a deal with you, I'll order the bank to stop sending letters before I have to fine and charge them with harassment. I'll keep you updated, and I'm betting you will be called to testify. You'll be subpoened anyway, but know that you are going to be called on. I normally don't handle civil cases like this. Hopefully, the bank will stop sending you the notices, and we won't have to go to trial. I'll send you detailed info within the next three days." She paused, she almost felt out of breath, it was as if she was talking faster than normality.

"Is there anything else you want to ask me about or tell me?" She waited the detectives were by the door, the visit was coming to an end.

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

"Guess I don't have much of a choice if I don't want them coming after me," Dick replied. He stood and looked over at the woman. He wasn't all that pleased with the detectives being drawn in and having to come and get the stuff like they had. He would have gotten it for them if they had asked him,

The financial stuff was not all that big of a deal to him. He could handle it. Dick was more concerned of keeping his second life out of view from these people. It's not everyday you have investigators in your home. He just hoped the next time the searched they asked before they took.

"I'll do what I can for what evidence may be needed on my part. I'm willing to cooperate," Dick said. He would be willing to as long as the other side didn't start pushing the matter. He still didn't like the idea of having to testify about anything. To him these matter were private and the bank could have taken it that way. He only saw it as them still trying to get money he didn't owe them.

[powermaniac184]

Lisa turned around and looked out the window as her phone vibrated. The phone wasn't new, well maybe for the cover but it was bulky for Lisa's taste. She could get a lighter more efficient phone except that she really doesn't have the time nor the patience at the moment with the cases and files. She reads the message then presses the button that speed dials the bank. "Hello, this is ADA Lisa Novak from the District Attorney's office, could you transfer the call to Mr. Kyle Leter." It's the twenty first century and people still forward lines to their bosses, reminds Lisa of her own phone and office which has calls that can wait. "Hello Mr. Leter this is ADA Lisa Novak I'm calling to let you know that you need to stop sending letters to Dick Grayson. I know he hasn't paid his morgage bills, but he has paid his loans. If you do not stop sending the letters then I will see you in court next week." The man talked for quite some time explaining taxation laws and policies of the bank and federal laws with banks. He apologized yet still told her to warn Dick about the morgage payments. "Will do Mr. Leter thanks so much" Lisa clicked the off button putting the phone away.

She turned to Dick with a reply, " You won't be getting those letters, but you will be getting ones about your morgage. Pay the bank your morgage and they won't go to court, and you won't have to testify for bank fraud. This is a win- win situation because if you pay the morgage, I can get more things done and you will have less calls from the D.A. office."

The detectives were now sitting and talking about movies and softball. Lisa enjoyed sports, and the arts. Though she also enjoyed getting to the point and making things easier for all intents.

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

He watched her as she went off and started talking on her phone for a moment. And once she started talking on it, he could tell right away about the conversation. She really didn't let things wait did she. He stood off too the side as she continued for a minute or so more.

And when she turned to him, he looked at her. "Yeah, I'll try to get on those as soon as I can," he replied to her. He honestly meant it, but he'd have to try and balance out a few things in his check book again to get things sorted out.

Dick really hadn't had much time to get around to everything he had wanted to lately. But he was usually good at making sure bills were paid and no one was kept waiting that couldn't be put off for long. He knew how things run and he didn't like these types of situations. Though, things happened every once in a while.

"That would be a good thing," he said. "It seems the DA office has more important things on their hands lately since their office seems to be being taken over by the FBI." He didn't go any further into that information. He knew more than the average citizen, but everyone has notice the FBI in town. And if they didn't, they were literally living underneath a rock or something.

[powermaniac184]

Lisa looked at the man with confidence. Lisa had worked as an intern to a tax lawyer some time before her prosecution days so she knew about tax law, she didn't like math but she was pretty good at it. She handed Dick the letter about the morgage, She also noticed some shoes near a door, walking over to the doors she noticed a heel on the side. "Is there anyone who lives with you Mr. Grayson, or do you like to wear woman's shoes?" She smiled kindly in a serious and sarcastic measure.

Chris popped into her mind again, his face, his laugh. The time at the park. It was as if she never left him like he found her. She looked down, hoping the detectives nor Grayson asked her. Then before she was about to speak the image of them in Los Angeles when he proposed, she paused. Her body language now was solemn and almost painful. Her hands felt shattered and wrinkled. Leaving him was the hardest thing she had done in her life. Chris's paranoia had gotten to the point where he was losing his mind. He didn't take his medication and started becoming angry, he smacked her. Then when Judge Redell called her into the womans office, where she was told that she would be suspended because the medical reports weren't sent to the defense. Lisa told the woman that the reports hadn't been sent yet and weren't done but the old woman cut her off and sent her to the justice bar in New York where they censured her and she left. Both moments painful and dark for Lisa, like her father's suicide. Why now? Why in the middle of a minor problem.

The images faded, and she felt naked. The embarrassment of emotionally shuttering of repressed memories. She quickly sat down taking a deep breath.

[Dick Grayson - Nightwing]

Dick took the letters from the woman. He'd look at them later when he had time. It was his problem to deal with. He noticed that her view began to wander over the apartment room again. That and the question she asked semi sarcastically, he figured.

"Do I look like the type of guy that wears heel," he replied in a joking manor. "My girlfriend, Barbara lives with me." He didn't feel the need to go into further detail unless asked more questions.

He watched her as she seemed to fade away from the conversation she had just started. Dick wasn't sure what to make of it. All he knew was that something had suddenly upset her. He wasn't sure what all he should do. She seemed to get lost in another thought. A painful one by the way she was acting.

"Are you alright," Dick asked as he started to limp over in her direction. As she sat down, he had a feeling it wasn't something he said. He had hardly said a word about anything for that matter unless he had been asked a question.

[powermaniac184]

His response was muffled to her, as she seemed to not care. Her sense slowly returned as her brain was trying to push the memories deeper into the back of the skull for now.
"Yes... I'm fine." Everytime this happened a headache followed, the buzzing like a shell from a bullet impact ringing loud. Chris was the best thing that had happened to her, she loved him deeply. Chris was born in Gotham, he met Lisa at Fordham where she was studying. They talked about literature and law. Chris was studying to be a neuroscientist so he was smart, but not freakish. He had muscles, brown hair, and was somewhat of a geeky nerd. After that day, they met regularly as friends, then went out, then he proposed. After Graduation he got a job at Gotham University of Neuropyschology and sciences. He made some breakthroughs, he would write or send emails to her. Always wanting Lisa to visit Gotham. She never had any time since she was in Law school and being an inturn to a judge. Near the middle of their engagement he became angry and paranoid about his associates.

The detectives also sat down, now unsure of what was going on. Most detectives weren't payed enough, few of them were actually loyal or good at what they do. Luckily both of them were loyal and good at their jobs. They eyed Lisa making sure things were ok, when both their cell phones rang and they answered them. Within a few minutes they put them back in their black clothes with pockets.