Sneaky Red [Bullock]

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        She has to be careful when snooping around this place, will get in trouble if her father finds her. Barbara went to the GCPD this night and entered into the evidence room. Barbara was on the trail of a tricky pickpocket that was evading the Gotham Police for five years total. She already figured out the thief's pickpocketing patterns and where they target most in Gotham city. It took a chance of herself using the Batcomputer which turned into family time again. However, the red-head had to go directly to the GCPD to expand her discoveries. Barbara just hopes that she can uncover something substantial to help break the case.

Entering the evidence room, Barbara checked over her shoulder to make sure no one was coming towards the room before walking in and closing the door behind her, making sure to lock it from the inside so she won't be disturbed. Barbara approached the shelf that held all the case files and looked for the file that was labeled 'Larceny.' Giving a victorious yet quiet "Yes!" Barbara grabbed for the marked folder and settled it down on a nearby desk, sitting down on the chair. She opened the file and begin searching for any clues to help out her own case.

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About twenty minutes later Bullock walked into evidence, not paying much mind, it was one of those times in the night where he was putting things away he was finished with. Something he tried to do each night before going home. The only cases he left on his desk were ones he needed out.

Of course Harvey had a key. He was one of the few trustworthy souls that kept one on his key ring. Perks of seniority, rank, and most of all, loyalty. A loyalty Harvey did his best to uphold.

It was after about two minutes of putting things away he was even aware of someone else. He looked at the young woman and put his hands on his hips.

"'Scuse me, but what the hell are y'doin' in here? This ain't exactly a public library, you know..."

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    Still analyzing the evidence report, Barbara discovered in the pages a slight description of the thief that a pair of patrolmen reported. The report said that the two saw a shade of blonde hair scurrying away into an alleyway and then disappearing all together. That was the only description Barbara found in the entire evidence report. The red-head was about to close the folder until she heard the sound of jingling keys and glanced up alertly seeing a shadow on the door-way.

Barbara cursed under her breath and looked around to find a way out, seeing nothing. She stilled when the door open and someone entered, looking as if they didn't notice her. An inspection was that it was Detective Bullock. Now Barbara doesn't know if she should relief that it wasn't her dad or be disappointed that she was caught. Two minutes passed and it seemed that Bullock was too busy to notice her presence so she's been inching from behind the desk with the folder behind her back.

When that two minutes was up and he did spot her, she gave herself a mental face-palm and stiffened up a smile to the detective giving a cheery, "Heeeey Bullock! I'm sorry I thought this was the staff lounge. Now I'm just going to go and leave you to your work bye bye!" Barbara frantically waved and silently placed the folder into a cupboard under the desk and did a bee-line to the door.

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"Woah, woah, woah, sister, hold up."

Harvey took a step toward her. He didn't see Barbara all the time, but when he did he was always a little taken aback at how grown up she was. He remembered when she used to goad him into playing little games when he had stopped over at the Gordon household on occasions in the past.

"Whatever bullshit yer sellin' I ain't buyin'. You may be able to give your dad the go around, but not me. I had three sisters I helped raise, I know the wily tricks of the female, teenaged, homo sapien, Red."

Harvey folded his arms, a file now tucked under one of those arms.

"What were you really doin' in here? If you try to lie to me again I may just feel inclined to rat you out to your old man. Your call, baby doll."

Harvey couldn't help but feel amused at his rhyme, but that amusement did not come across upon his posture nor his face.

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    Almost reaching the door, Barbara stiffened at the sound of the detective's voice. The red-head turned her entire body around and stood still as she was spoken to. She knows when she's in trouble and right now, this is the exact time to be in trouble. Not deep trouble oh no, that is when fighting bad guys.

And this time, if she'll not tell what she was doing here, then her father will take it out of her. At least Bullock was less over-protective.

Barbara gave a low sigh, maybe she can twist her story a bit around. "A class in my college wanted to paper on the crime goings in Gotham through the ages. I just came here to study." The study part was true, the college part was a complete lie. And her major was Library Sciences so that was a real complete lie.

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"Alright then. That's fine. Next time you want help like that, I can understand you don't necessarily want to go to your dad, come to me. I have plenty of cases that I can talk about with you."

Harvey looked a little less severe now and relaxed his posture, allowing his arms to fall at his sides, the left one slipping into his pant pocket. His suit jacket and trench coat were at his desk. His hair looked like it had become a bit unkempt under his hat throughout the day and was beginning to get Inspector Gadget hair at this point.

"So, what's that file you were so slick to try and get under my radar."

If he only knew she was Batgirl. If he really wanted to know who Batgirl was he could probably figure it out. The vigilante's red hair made him not want to know. Not only would red heads be the death of him, he was convinced of this, but she reminded him a little too much of Barbara. Wouldn't want to be the guy to tell the commish his kid puts on tights for something other than twerking in the evening.

Harvey made a hand motion beckoning her to hand it over to him.

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    Barbara let a winning smile appear that her lie was taken as truth, a gleeful yes in her mind. She turned around and would have left until Bullock questioned on the file she slipped. How did he...? She asked in her head on how Bullock knew she had the folder behind her back. Maybe the detective was observant than he looks, well, he was one of the best detectives in the GCPD for a reason. So Barbara shouldn't be surprised, still, the lighting was kind of dimmed.

Turning around again, Barbara paced slowly forward to where she hid the folder and took the reports out of the cupboard desk. She went over to where Bullock was standing and stood in front of him with shoulders lowered, handing over the file. It wasn't best to fight and argue with the man because one way or another, he'll know what she was truly doing.

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Harvey began to flip through the file.

"Ah, the little blonde pocket terror of the East End. HA, caught her the other day. I didn't bring her in, and that's between you an me, don't you got tattle tailing on me or I'll remember this."

Harvey let a grin smooth over his lips and he rubbed his chin.

"Hmm, I think I might have to hold onto this. What happened was the other day I heard this kid's description over dispatch, happened to spot her, try to cuff her to me so I wouldn't have to run after her. She got loose from the cuff. Pretty sneaky little shit."

Harvey continued mulling over the file and let his hand fall to his side again.

"I lured her over to me with some pizza, fed her, figured out she hadn't showered in over two months, brought her home, got her cleaned up and then I went and got her some clothes. She even stayed for dinner, but I had a crime scene to head off to. By the time I got back home she was gone, even made sure to lock the door behind her."

Harvey shut the file and looked at the folder with a frown.

"I think she's mixed up with the Falcones or just stays in their territory. Poor kid, she's stubborn, wish I coulda helped her more. Yeah, I probably should have booked her, but hell, if I wanted kids to hate me I'da been a principle or gym coach or somethin'."

Harvey sighed, obviously not happy with the outcome of that situation. He knew how to handle little girls and he'd always been a good big brother and uncle to his sisters and nieces. He didn't have any nephews. Men were a rare breed in the matriarchy that was the Bullock women.

"So, why's this one got your attention? I don't think its too nice to write a paper about a minor, that information is actually protected. I'd recommend something on an adult. If you want to talk about the current age of Gotham crime then I'd recommend some of the big wigs like Joker and all those loons."

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    Barbara stood nervously as Harvey went through the file, will he figure out she was duping him? Or think it was just a random case file she picked up? If he tells her father she's been snooping around with police work again without his knowing then her face will probably be plastered in the GCPD as a 'Do not let in' deal or worse, grounding. Just because Barbara is now eighteen doesn't mean she still can't be grounded, especially since she is living in the same apartment with him.

When Bullock begin to speak about the case, Barbara listened intently, eyes widening with surprise. The pickpocket.....is a girl?? Now that was surprising information. Barbara was thinking that it was some sort of professional con artist or a professional thief. But the red-head was thinking in criminal terms and wasn't counting the Gotham citizens. That explained the consistency of the time period with certain seasons and when the tourist trade is the highest. East End....that indicates that the girl must be poor, that must be the reason why she pickpockets. Barbara nodded to Bullock about not ratting him out to her dad and besides, she wouldn't want to anyway. He's indirectly giving her viable information.

Hearing what Bullock was adding about the pickpocket, Barbara noted the handcuff situation. However, she wanted to know how the girl got out of the handcuffs, there's a lot of methods on how. "How did she get out of them? Were they too small on her?" That was the most logical question since Barbara doesn't know the age of the kid and that was usually the case with some kids.

As the detective continued on with his story, Barbara couldn't help but let a smile out when he was saying on how he took care of the kid bringing her home. Guess big Ol' Harvey Bullock is a softie when it comes to kids. By the end, Barbara begin thinking more on the girl. With opening the locked door, the kid must have been smart and careful but overly impatient. Barbara was going to wrap this up until Bullock said something oddly peculiar about the kid. She stays in Falcone territory, and if any one knows what's going on with the Falcones it's clear that they're dwindling in power. That's something Barbara should look over if it's true.

But what would the Falcones being doing with an East End pickpocket?

Barbara replied to Bullock's question, again twisting it. "I just saw it and I thought it would be interesting. So thanks Bullock! I guess I should go and do a paper on the more bigger players."

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"No, they were fine on her, she probably learned to get out of them from someone she trusts. I need to look into the last few years of missing persons cases and try to figure out who she really is. Said her name was Roxanne, that's all I know and that's likely a fake name..."

Harvey was a little thankful he caught Barbara snooping, he would not have come across this file. He watched Barbara's reactions and only raised a skeptical brow. This kid's all books, he thought.

"Yeah, its good to have an understanding the rises and falls of the number of smaller more minor crimes, but, as someone who works for your dad, these days are pretty nuts. I would trade one of those lunatics for a hundred pick pockets any day..."

Harvey held the file along with the other. He looked at Barbara.

"You need anything else? I gotta lock this room up. You can ask me or any of the guys around here if you need some info."

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    Listening to the response to her question about the handcuffs, Barbara raised an inquisitive brow at that fact. She has the feeling that Bullock wasn't telling her everything that happened with the handcuffs, but she ignored it. Hmm....so the kid knows how to slip out of handcuffs. The more the red-head learns about the pickpocket the better she can catch her. Probably take her to a children's home or find someone to take her into their home. Either way, she needs to get off the streets. Barbara will cross-reference all the missing persons and any other cases with the girl's name, fake or not.

Barbara couldn't help but chuckle at the last words Bullock said about the tra a de of crime. Yes, she wishes that too, but there isn't any rest for wickedness.

Feeling that it was about time for her to get going, having enough vital information on her case, Barbara gathered her things and shook her head as she went to the door. "No thanks, I think I got what I needed. Night Bullock." And with that, the cocky red-head walked out of the door going to the front of the GCPD. While in the hallway, Barbara took out her cellphone and begin to call a friend. She needed to know if this Roxanne girl is clearly working for the Falcones so the best person to call in relation to anything with the mob families of Gotham is the Huntress.

"Helena Bertinelli speaking." Came the familiar female voice from the other end.

"Hey, it's Babs. I need to ask you a favor..." Barbara said as she finally exited the building.