Seeds of Distrust

Gordon felt relief wash over him at the sight of Batman.  The crowd of onlookers and pedestrians gathered behind the police lines cheered like baseball fans, waving and whistling their praise to the masked man.

"It's about time you showed up," Gordon remarked.

"No!" Mayor White snapped, pointing a sharp finger at the masked vigilante.

"We don't need your help!  I'm taking control of this situation and putting someone else in charge."

An invisible knife poked Gordon's chest.

"Who?" he asked.

"Chief Searle."

Gordon's heart burst and the fatigue he had been fighting off all day weighed down on him all at once.  He knew Super Chief Searle as a career-minded oppurtunist who was completely indifferent to the sufferage of victims.  Since the previous year, Gordon had suspected Searle of foul play, but had no credible reason to investigate him.

"I don't think that's a good idea, Mayor White," Gordon stated.  "He'll only make things worse."

"It's a little late to be making observations, Gordon," the mayor said over his shoulder as he walked away.

Gordon turned to Batman with concern in his eyes.

"What is it?" the caped crusader inquired.

"I already know what Searle's going to do.  He's just going to cut the power and send in the S.W.A.T. team.  How many people die in there means nothing to him as long as he takes that nut down."

Batman scrutinized him with a look.  "Do you really believe that?"

"I wouldn't have said it otherwise.  The situation is past the point of getting the hostages out alive.  Their goal is to take the hostage taker out before he can blow himself up.  They can blame any deaths on him later."

Gordon looked across the parking lot at Mayor White, who was talking to Super Chief Searle.  Searle's face was stoic and professional, but Gorodon knew he was doing cartwheels inside.

"If you're going to do something..." Gordon said, turning back to Batman.  But he was gone.

"You better do it quick."

RATE THIS CHAPTER!

NOT YET RATED

Please login to rate this chapter!