[center][img]http://baku-panda.org/images/absolute_robin.png[/img][/center][COLOR=steelblue][INDENT][B][SUP][SUB][H3]R O U T E   1 6[/H3][/SUB][/SUP][/B][/INDENT][hr][/COLOR][INDENT][INDENT][sup][color=goldenrod]Bludhaven | Present Day[/color][/sup][/INDENT][/INDENT]
The lifelike doll crouched down along the side of the road.

Dick leaned up against the side of the unmarked police cruiser, seemingly content to watch as the animatronic youth processed the crime scene for itself. Just what kind of programming that Schott had installed on Toyboy wasn’t really something that Dick had ever thought to try and understand. From what he’d observed, the doll was capable of analyzing a variety of information. 

[color=#ffd700]“There were two vehicles,”[/color] the doll supplied after a moment. The small, hoodie-clad figure rose back to its feet, turning to face Dick as it continued. [color=#ffd700]“The vehicle on the shoulder had a wheelbase of precisely one-hundred-fourteen-point-four inches. Based on impressions, approximate curb weight was three-thousand-forty-eight pounds.”[/color]

Dick just blinked. That was [i]significantly[/i] more analysis than he’d been anticipating. Was the doll capable of assessing terrain? Some kind of autoCAD rendering, perhaps?

Turning away, the doll pointed at a different spot off the side of the road. [color=#ffd700]“The second vehicle was larger, with a one-hundred-thirty-eight inch wheelbase and a weight of five thousand pounds.”[/color]

The detective just gave a gruff sound of approval. [color=#9fc5e8]“Does this seem familiar?”[/color] Dick asked simply.

Turning back, neck craned to look up at the taller figure, the doll responded, [color=#ffd700]“This would appear to be an accurate re-enactment of the abduction of Anton Schott.”[/color]

Dick gave a nod. It was an [i]assumption[/i] on his part, but there were still a lot of details about that abduction that the case file had been unclear of, owing to the children’s recollection of events being colored by the trauma that they’d experienced afterward.

Walking out to the middle of the road, the doll held up its hands as it gestured and said, [color=#ffd700]“The first vehicle was made to appear disabled, with a doll or other object in the path of the school bus in order to better guarantee that it would stop here.”[/color] Marking the spot with his body, the doll then motioned back down the road. [color=#ffd700]“The second vehicle, likely a van or bus, then overtook the bus so that the children could be off-loaded and then transported in a less conspicuous conveyance.”[/color]

Dick just gave a nod in the direction that Toyboy had indicated. [color=#9fc5e8]“You think they came from that direction?”[/color]

The doll’s arms fell back by its side. [color=#ffd700]“If this is a re-enactment of the abductions, as it appears, then that would be historically accurate,”[/color] the pseudo-boy affirmed with a nod, before adding, [color=#ffd700]“However, I am confused.”[/color]

[color=#9fc5e8]“About?”[/color]

[color=#ffd700]“To my knowledge, there are only five living witnesses to that event,”[/color] the automaton remarked candidly.

One eyebrow crept up along Dick’s furrowed brow, even as a sour feeling formed in the pit of his stomach. He hadn’t thought to suspect one of the five kids who’d survived Hinkley Creek in 1996. The thought of it now didn’t sit well with him. 

Even still, it appeared a rabbit hole that they were doomed to go down. [color=#9fc5e8]“Where did you take the kids after you abducted Anton that day?”[/color]

[color=#ffd700]“The Schott Toy Factory off Highway Twenty-Seven.”[/color]

Dick’s shoulders slumped. Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy. With a shake of his head, the man explained, [color=#9fc5e8]“No, a fire burned that down about twelve years ago.” [/color]

Motioning for the doll to come back, Dick pulled open the car down as he said, [color=#9fc5e8]“Come on, we’ve got more work to do.”[/color]

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He could have afforded a place out in the ‘burbs. 

Instead, Dick rented out the top floor of an old brownstone on Parkthorne Avenue. Back when he’d been Nightwing, it had been everything that he’d needed. Centrally located. Rooftop access. A layer of cork beneath the floorboards and a few false walls and partitions helped to insulate the workings of a vigilante from any neighbors or landlords that might come stalking by.

It wasn’t the Batcave, but the computers were still capable of accessing more information than the police commissioner of a small municipality ought to have been able to pull. Chock that up to the secure computer network that Sara Charles had developed back in the day.

Five different people were currently displayed. [color=#9fc5e8]“Five survivors of the Hinkley Creek murders,” [/color]Dick stated, peering up at the monitors as he talked though each in turn..  [color=#9fc5e8]“Anton Schott, committed to a mental institution. Aaron Helzinger, in and out of prison for violent felonies.  Laura Givens, sole female survivor, currently serving in the U.S. Air Force.  Michael Jarret, committed suicide four years later.  Neal Ashley, suicide, several months after Jarret.  Thomas Cunningham, high school drop out, several misdemeanor drug possession charges, but no significant encounters with police.”[/color]

Toyboy was seated cross-legged on the floor, next to Dick’s chair, just nodding silently.

Shuffling through the data, Dick continued. [color=#9fc5e8]“The last known address for Givens is an Armed Forces Europe military postal address. Helzinger is in Blackgate and Schott was transferred to Ellsworth in Metropolis...”[/color]

[color=#ffd700]“So... that leaves Cunningham?”[/color] Toyboy ventured aloud.

Dick just gave a gruff sound of disapproval. [color=#9fc5e8]“It doesn’t fit, but I can have a unit question Cunningham as part of the official investigation to be sure,”[/color] the man remarked. Reaching up, he scratched at his chin as he mulled it over some more. [color=#9fc5e8]“I’ll also reach out to Arkam and Ellsworth. See who Schott or Helzinger might be talking to.”[/color]

Minimizing those windows, Dick next brought up a Google Maps display of the area surrounding Route 13 through Bludhaven. With a few more clicks, he brought up a browser window and was soon plugged into the traffic cameras. [color=#9fc5e8]“There’s still the question of where the kids went,” [/color]the man remarked as he worked. [color=#9fc5e8]“There are no cameras on that part of Route Thirteen, but we’ve got them on all the entry and exit ramps for the highways.”[/color]

Swiveling his chair toward the boy, Dick rose from out of the seat and then motioned for Toyboy to take his spot as he said, [color=#9fc5e8]“I need you to poll through the footage for these cameras. See if you can identify our vehicles, where they came from, and then we can pull the string back from there.”[/color]

Jumping up, Toyboy literally pounced from floor to chair. Spinning around with the momentum, the child-like doll chirped, [color=#ffd700]“Oh, okay!”[/color]

Then, as Dick started to walk away, the man heard, [color=#ffd700]“Wait, what are you going to do?”[/color]

Dick paused, looking back to see Toyboy peering up over the back of a chair like a puppy that was watching its master walking away. [color=#9fc5e8]“Me? I’m going to bed,”[/color] the man explained, giving a wave as he continued on.

[color=#9fc5e8]“Some of us have work in the morning.”[/color]