Darkness of the Mind [Isaac Jones]

[Deleted]

It had been going on for close to seventeen days, a crime spree that was unrelenting as it was frustrating. Huntress would barely get one crime broken up before another announced its arrival and though she had been able to keep up - barely - the non-stop action had begun to take its toll on her. Too little sleep, odd hours to grab a bite, virtually no down time, was making her edgy, as if that behavior was anything new to her, but it was also bothering her.

With each new day her reflexes slowed just that much, but Helena was just too dedicated, some might say crazy, to slow down. Crime seldom took a holiday and Gotham's criminal elements didn't seem to know what the term 'vacation' even meant which left it up to her to try and find the energy to stem the tide. She knew others were facing the same problems - Batgirl, Batman, the other vigilantes..., all of them were giving it their one-hundred-ten percent, but it just didn't seem to be helping.

Leaning back against a wall while Gotham's men in blue worked to clean up the latest incident - a gang war over turf that ultimately belonged to yet another, more powerful gang, Huntress held her left arm with her right hand and waited. The officer in charge would wish to talk with her and though that was not a problem in the normal sense, the particular officer on this case was one that had a hate-on for the Batman, let alone any of what he called the bat's protégés. He was against all forms of vigilantism and the two of them had had words in the past.

Huntress was tired, edgy to say the least, and just plain worn out. She needed a bath, wanted some kind of hot meal in her stomach, and maybe a few hours of sleep, and though she had already given her statement, had already written it up to the local unit's satisfaction, her night had been placed on hold just so the a-hole in charge could bite into her. She was as criminal as those she had just fought, and it didn't matter that she had saved the butts of two patrol units that had been pinned down by automatic gunfire, the gang member's guns slicing into the squad cars like a hot knife through soft butter to make them look like Swiss Cheese.

Her head down while she tried to relax, Huntress looked up when she saw the arrival of another unmarked car, and though the gentlemen that climbed out of the car was a cop, there was something about him that seemed different, but then, Huntress was just too tired to care, any more than she was with what the officer in charge was now telling her, though with him yelling at her again, Huntress couldn't really tell if he was saying anything she wanted to hear or was simply ignoring him..., but at least she had not straightened up and driven a hard punch into his face.

**....AND ANOTHER THING HUNTRESS, IF YOU HADN'T GOTTEN INVOLVED THESE SQUAD CARS WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN SHOT AT. I HAVE HALF A MIND TO HAVE YOU ARRESTED FOR OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE...**

"Then we're in agreement that you only have half a mind, lieutenant. Those cars were already Swiss Cheese before I got here, and if I had not intervened when I did, you'd have four dead officers on your hands.  Don't press me, lieutenant."

[Deleted]

Not one yawn had crept from Isaac’s mouth, not all through the night. Some might say he’s slow and lethargic during day but by night he’s more awake than the Junkies in East Gotham. Eyes wide open, his hands firmly wrapped around the steering wheel of his car, he sped to the location of another horrific murder, his second crime scene of the night. A band of loan sharks were found frozen to death in their hideout, their shares gone, obviously another move by Victor Fries to increase his own funds. He’d barely got back to his Office before he was informed of this case, a bloody gang fire fight in the South of Gotham. It seems that the seedy East is now moving further and further south, encroaching upon the more domestic suburbs.

Through the glass before him, Isaac could see the multiple GCPD cars parked around, their lights flashing through the dark. Traffic was been diverted to another street yet Isaac pulled up to the curb outside of the crime scene, walking up to the Officer by the yellow tape. “Go right in, Doc. They’re waiting for you to take a look.” Although quiet and stoic, Isaac often made friends with a few of the Officers, if he didn’t make any allies with the higher ranking officials. Some can’t stand him yet others find him strange in an amusing way, and that’s better than being despised. “Thanks, Ramirez. Bad foot again?” In one hand Isaac held a cup of cold coffee, which didn’t bother him. He took a sip as the Young Officer smirked at him. “I ain’t giving you the pleasure this time, you just guess most of the time.” Isaac noted that he was placing more weight on one leg than the other, and that he overheard a conversation back at the station about him being going to get some medication for his knee.

Lifting the tape for him, The Officer allowed him to past under and into the crime scene. The back alley was filled with bodies, at least five of the men. Blood covered the brick walls, blocking out the graffiti already on them. A corpse hung from upon a dumpster, his arm swinging with bloody dripping down his wrist. Isaac took another sip from his plastic cup, obviously not bothered by this scene. His red tie fluttered over his shoulder, loosened around his neck in a casual manner. Before kneeling down to a body, he unbuttoned his blue jacket, pulling gloves on in order to keep the evidence clean. No bullet wounds or shell casings to be found only slash marks. “Interesting…” Isaac muttered under his breath, tilting a victim’s head to look at his eyes. They were wide open with terror, petrified by what killed him.

Standing up once more, he looked pivoted on his heels quickly, looking around the scene. His head then shot up, looking up at the sky above through the narrow gap in between the buildings. “Okay, that could work.” Isaac often talked to himself while thinking, aiding him to sum up ideas. All the ones alive are unconscious for some reason. Suddenly he heard the shouting of the Lieutenant and the quieter voice of a woman. Peaking around the corner, he saw them both argue with one another. “Excuse me; excuse me, yes sorry but hello.” Isaac pushed the Lieutenant out of the way, taking Huntress’ hand and giving it a quick shake. Unlike most of the other men, he hadn’t noticed her revealing outfit; his mind was focused upon other things. Turning around to point at what he was talking about, he began to talk in a very quick manner. “When you arrived, the police were getting shot at, correct? They killed no criminal due to them being pinned down however I see five corpses back there, none killed with bullets. Since you knocked out the rest of them, I’ve had to do this myself but…” Isaac stopped talking for a moment and looked up at the top of the alley again. “How tall’s that building? The fall would kill you. Any how, can I talk to you in private, Ms. Vigilante or who ever you are?”

Not giving her the chance to decline him, he grabbed her arm and brought her right to the back of the alley way, away from the eyes and ears of the other Officers. Besides the little light above them, they were both in darkness. Placing his hand into his pocket, he took a lighter and a carton of cigarettes out, taking one and offering another to her after lighting his one. “Sorry, I’m trying to quit.” Lifting the lighted cigarette to his mouth, he inhaled lightly before allowing it fall back out in two long grey lines which rose into the sky. “You don’t look too good, and I’m talking about more than the cuts and bruises.” Her arms showed signs of damage yet bags under her eyes showed a lack of sleep, a big problem for anyone. Surprisingly Isaac slept fine even after witnessing horrible scenes, not letting it bother him in the slightest.

[Deleted]

Huntress had seen the man coming toward her from the corner of her left eye but with the lieutenant in her face it was hard to deal with much of anything else. The fact that the abusive cop had been pushed aside like so much trash nearly brought a smile to her face, a smile that was quickly replaced by one of boredom in that the unknown man had done nothing more than replace one abusing cop for himself. Her hand pumped in a fast greeting, Huntress wondered what the guy might have wanted with her, though it became quite apparent once he had grabbed her and pulled her from the lieutenant.

"Like I told the other officer, when I arrived the shooting was already underway. The body's of the five men, if they are the ones you are speaking of, were already bleeding out, though they weren't dead at the time, not all of them anyway."

The questions rattled off her lips faster than she had heard anyone ask them before and tired as she was, Huntress had to concentrate more than she had wanted to in order to get each one in their proper order. Looking up when he asked about the building, Huntress quickly did the math in her head and came up with the approximate height of the building, even though she knew - for her - that such a drop would not have killed her in the least.

"The building has six stories, add the two feet for the base, and the crown that runs around the top and you're looking at seventy-five feet. And the name is Huntress."

Grabbed, Huntress felt herself being pulled back deeper into the blind alley. Had she been fresher, more awake, the unknown man might have found himself flat out on the alley floor but all she wanted to do was get some sleep. His next question took her by surprise, though once she really let it slide past the fatigue Huntress realized it wasn't so much a question as a comment on her well being. Her body had taken a beating over the course of the last few nights, but this one fight had nearly done her in, so much so that she was now considering taking the next couple days off. In one swift and concerted move, Huntress had the cup of coffee in her hand, the rim to her lips before she downed the contents. It was not made to her liking, but coffee was coffee and at least it was hot, though the look that had arisen on his face was anything but happiness when the coffee had vanished.

"I'll be fine after a few hours of sleep. Might I ask who you are? Good coffee by the way."

[Deleted]

The carton of cigarettes fit back into Isaac’s coat pocket as easily as they came out, large pockets was something he looked for while buying clothes. The cigarette itself sat between his fingers, as another flicked the ash from the end before he’d bring it back up to his grey lips. Isaac didn’t have many bad habits, among was smoking and being poorly dressed. It was clear from his outfit that this was yet another long night for the Investigator. His knees were dabbed with water from where he’d been kneeling in a wet back street; the collar on his shirt was stained like the red tie which hung loosely around his neck. One could say he wore the complete opposite from the Woman standing next to him. She wore that suit for practicality, he wore his for comfort. Her utility belt no doubt kept many a gadget; his pockets were filled with useless items.

“I’m Isaac Jones, Dr. Isaac Jones. Sorry I don’t have some lavish vigilante name like yourself.” Smirking, Isaac never thought of himself as a caped hero but the thought amused him. As if his day wasn’t busy another with out him clambering over roof tops in tights. Besides his current line of work was just as practical and it paid. “Thanks, I don’t like coffee myself. Pressed the wrong button on the machine before leaving and I was in no mood to buy another.” Coffee left a distinctive taste in his mouth, a distraction he didn’t need while working. Her comment about sleep got him thinking though, about the last time he slept. It’s often the case that he falls to sleep while in his office, no matter what he’s doing. He usually worked during the night but day time provided little rest as there are always files to search through.

Although he wouldn’t say, he didn’t really listen to what her name was. He asked who she was; Huntress is just a mask she wears when she wants to play with Gotham’s villainous night life. He wouldn’t be surprised if one day he’ll arrive at a scene to find The Batman, Robin or her down upon the floor with their own blood across their face. After all they are only human and humans do die. No matter what the Dark Knight would like us to all think. “Those Officers were lucky that you arrived when you did. Actually now that I think about it,’ Isaac looked up again,’ so are the Gangsters.” It was obvious what had attacked them, if only the Lieutenant could see that.

Isaac turned back to face one of the bodies, kneeling down next to the slouched corpse, picking up his arm before letting it drop back down. “Attacked from above, killed with a sharp object yet a distinct look of fear in there eyes. That could be a few people.” Rubbing his eyes, something then caught his attention by the leg of one of the dead criminals; a tuft of brown hair. That narrowed it down greatly. “The fall would kill someone unless they had something like,’ he touched her flowing cape’, one of these to help them.” Standing up again, Isaac placed the evidence in a small plastic bag before walking back towards the rest of the Police Officers. “Cased closed.” Isaac through the bag at the confused Lieutenant who gave it one look. “What the hell’s this?” His tone showed his anger which was covering his inept ability which hindered him in finding this vital piece of evidence. “Animal hair. Watch the skies tonight, there’s a Man-Bat around.” Smirking, Isaac made his way back over to his car, opening the door before looking back up at Huntress. “Now that we’ve finished here, would you like to come back to my place for that sleep you were talking about?” Now that he was under the light of the street lamps, his face was a lot more visible, showing off his moderately handsome yet poorly kept facial features. He placed one hand upon his chest. “I swear not to peak under that mask. Unless I decided to take a picture of your secret identity before selling that picture to the highest bidder. Actually now there’s a thought…”

[Deleted]

"One doesn't have need of a lavish name if one is not wearing a costume, Dr. Jones, though what you are wearing now, at this moment, could be considered a costume in and of itself."

She had listened to the good doctor's comments about the coffee, though she didn't really believe he had touched the wrong button. The giving of false or misleading information could be considered just as hiding an identity as was her mask, though Huntress felt the latter to be more worthy. That he smoked was a turn off but then much of her real life family indulged in the addictive weed, a habit she had never taken up for which she was whole heartedly grateful. The outfit he had on seemed to suggest more a researcher than a regular doctor, but then they could also represent a bachelor, one that was not accustomed to doing laundry on a regular basis. A stain there, a bit of blood here, as well as smudges of something else all told the story, but then once she had looked down at her own appearance Huntress decided to back off.

Her eyes following his, Huntress thought back on the developing scene of carnage once she had arrived. The gang members weren't shooting at the officers as much as they were something big flying about the alley, and though she had had no idea what the thing was at first, the intense pain radiating from the wound between her shoulder blades had given Huntress a very close up view of the creature. Why he had attacked her she had no clue, but then maybe he was in some kind of berserker rage or maybe he just hadn't recognized her in the darkness, something which with the striking of a magnesium flare that brought mid-day sun like glory to the otherwise deathly black area, and Huntress knew it was the flare more than her presence that drove the huge bat-looking thing away, though with his absence, the real turf war began, and that was a task she was good at breaking up.

"Thanks, but I think I'll pass this time. I could use a bath before anything else and then I'll see about sleep. Perhaps we'll run into each other again..., so until then?"

[Deleted]

Standing by his car, one arm upon roof with the door open, Isaac glanced down at his own outfit. It wasn’t what he’d describe as a costume. Placing one hand upon his coat lapel, he moved it closer to his nose, sniffing it slightly. Not bad. The sprinkles of blood across his tie bothered him more; at least they weren’t his own. Throwing the empty coffee cup into a near by bin, Isaac climbed into the car, still looking up at her. The light behind her cast a shadow over him, creating a silhouette which concealed her body. All he could see was her outline. “This isn’t a costume, I assure you. If I were to wear one though I’d try to keep it in better condition than this.” Isaac cared very little for his clothing appearance. There was no reason to dress nice for a job like this. The tie was only a formality.

Closing the door behind him and placing the belt over his chest and lap, Isaac was ready to leave the scene. Flicking the cigarette end out of the window and out onto the pavement, he gave a slight nod to the masked vigilante. “Well it’s being an honour to meet you here, Hunter…Huntress. We should do it more often, see you at the next bloody crime scene.” Giving a little goodbye wave, Isaac turned the ignition on, starting the car. Driving out of the street, he passed the parked police cars, not turning to notice the Lieutenant who gave him a lethal stare. As he drove along, the coroner’s car drove past and approached the crime scene. There was little he could do now; the case had been wrapped up in Isaac’s mind. The only thing left for the Coroner to do was take the bodies to the morgue as was proper procedure.

Glancing at his rear view mirror, he looked at the masked figure stand beneath the street lamp. Ten years ago she would have been arrested for being a vigilante, now the Police work with her. How times change so quickly. In his opinion, he missed the days where the GCPD enforced the law, not every man or woman who thinks they can take down armed gangsters. She looked tired, pained. Fighting crime the way she does must be a hard drain on anyone, even the Batman must feel it at times. One day, people like her won’t be needed. Although for now this City needs all the help it can get. Even with these costumed heroes, crime is always fighting back, finding new ways to attack the people of Gotham.