2017.01.26 - Cold Case Part 6
This log is part of the Cold Case Plot.
Robin nods quickly and they take a trip up to Arkham's security center. There, the people are glad to help the Dynamic Duo, but the camera aimed onto the loading dock is designed to show who enters and leaves, and not much else. Going back to a Friday when Franks worked, it shows him exiting the door and moving to the side of the dock - then returning less than a minute later - at least once he's seen putting a fat envelope into his lab coat.
Last Friday, though, McGill shows at the door and clicks a flashlight twice. Minutes later he advances to the same out-of-shot area and stays there for several minutes. Then he returns to the door, shaking his head. He's followed by a slender man in a dark cheap suit who grabs his arm. They argue. For a second, the camera catches the suited man's face, and security is able to pull up a grainy poor quality zoom.
It's still enough to ID the man, at least to the Caped Crusaders: they've dealt with him before: Professor Achilles Milo. Chemistry genius. And Criminal.
"And there's our missing link," Batman says, tapping the screen with the grainy still of Milo. "I bet he's doing more experiments on trying to make super humans again."
Turning to the security guard, Batman asks, "When was he released from Arkham?"
The security guard clicks on the screen in front of him. "He's never actually been a patient here, Batman - he was always found competent to stand trial, so he was put in the prison system. He was released for good behavior about two years ago and that's the last official record of him.
Batman glances aside at Robin momentarily. His memories of the infamous Professor Achilles Milo were slightly different from the account given by the security guard. But he does not comment on that subject.
"Two years ago," Batman repeats softly, considering the implications. "Thank you for your help," he says to the security guard before turning away. "Let's go, Robin," he says, already striding away, his cape billowing in the breeze of his passage.
Robin turns and walks in unison with Batman. "Gosh, he's had two years to dig himself into a hole," the Teen Wonder says. "But his MO hasn't changed. That's the motive, then: Money."
Once back in the Batmobile, Batman says, "I remember him being at patient at Arkham. Apparently things are different in this time stream. Now we just need to track him down and stop him." He starts the vehicle and begins driving through the dark streets of Gotham City, headed back to the Batcave where hopefully the powerful batcomputer will be able to help them find the missing criminal chemist.
Robin glances back at Batman, at Bruce, at the mention of his time shenanigans, then back to the task at hand. He pulls up a small keyboard and taps on it, linking to the Bat-computer. "The guard is right - no activity from him for years. He saw his parole officer regularly, went to counseling, volunteered in... huh. He volunteered in the same clinic that Arnold Taylor used. He did medical transcription for them so he'd have had access to Taylor's complete medical history..."
"So there's that connection. And the surveillance video showed him meeting with McGill. I wonder if he was also meeting with Franks," Batman says, making connections. "Can we get a last known address from his parole reports?"
Robin nods as he bends to the task. "Here it is," he says, naming a street in an area of light industry and moderate rents. Not a bad place but not a great place, either. "Yep, he's been paying his bills regularly and all that.." the youth says, then shakes his head. "Milo is scum of the top order. Him going straight like this.. doesn't fit," he says. He quirks a slight smile. "I like to believe people can change, but not this quickly. Dude should be going to Rotary Club meetings."
"I sincerely doubt he's clean. Whatever he's doing, he's just hiding it very well," Batman says. "I think we should pay a little visit to him," he adds, turning the wheel to head off in a new direction that will take them to Milo's home.
Robin nods as he checks his utlility belt, making sure everything is full up and working, then he waits and watches the batmobile feeds as they get closer to their destination.
Finally the Batmobile pulls up alongside a long low building, a former warehouse converted now to lofts for a rapidly-gentryfying neightborhood. A few bars are still open, but they are in the local entertainment district a couple blocks down, just barely visible from here. Most people seem to have decided to stay in due to the cold.
Parking the Batmobile, Batman makes a final check of his own equipment before stepping out into the cold night air. He surveys the building, looking for security cameras and devices which might need to be disabled for their clandestine visit to Professor Milo. A brief glance is spared for the entertainment center a few blocks away.
There is indeed security - cameras and a key-card door for the residents, like one might expect. Civilian-grade stuff and easily avoided by the Dynamic Duo. Several light are in in the various units - looks like about 15 rented spaces of the 20 or so.
"You take care of the cameras, I'll work on the door, "Batman says, pulling a special keycard from a compartment of his utility belt. Wires trail from the keycard and soon enough he takes a custom made smart device out as well, connecting the two and getting to work on cracking the door.
Robin scales the wall and disconnects the main box servicing the video feeds, while avoiding the cameras themselves with some deft acrobatics. Then he drops down to the ground, and rejoins the Dark Knight. The area looks clean, bright, well-maintained, an oasis snatched from the desolation mere blocks away.
A few minutes of technical wizardry and the door clicks softly. The Dark Knight pulls the door open, gesturing for Robin to enter while he puts away his gizmos.
Robin walks in, bright cape billowing, and he surveys the lobby area, and the elevator. It's late, so the place is empty. A few free-magazine stands are here, as well as a short corridor to the maintenance-man's area, the walls of the corridor where the various mail boxes for the residents are located. Robin cross es to them and while Batman is readying, he picks the lock on Milo's mailbox.
"Huh. National Geographic, American Scientist, Popular Mechanics.. a bill and an Old Navy catalog," the Teen Wonder says as he shuffles them and puts them back. "Something is wrong here. A guy like Milo is not going to be reading populist science mags," he says as he rejoins the Dark Knight.
"All part of the cover," Batman says, opting to take the stairs up to Milo's floor.
Robin nods as he follows. Soon, the pair are at Milo's door. The man opens at the second knock, looking surprised to see the costumed pair, but at the same time not /frightened/. "Ah. Batman and the Boy Wonder," he says. "U suppose you should come in. I surmise something terrible has happened and I am to be blamed for it?" he says.
The bowl-cut is neatly trimmed, his long face pale but otherwise looking in good condition, and he's dressed in slacks and a t-shirt, looking like someone about to sit down for some Netflix-and-Chill. "Do either of you want something to drink?"
Stepping inside the loft apartment, Batman looks around. "No, thank you," he responds to Milo's offer of refreshments. "What have you been doing at Arkham?" the Caped Crusader asks, getting right to the point.
Robin walks in, a little miffed at being referred to as the BOY Wonder, and he movrs to the side of Batman, subtly blocking the door while also having a good view of the loft.
The loft pattern is your classic long-box, with dividors breaking up the space into a bedroom area, vaguely visible at the back, the main den area, an office, and a small kitchen.
"Batman," tsks Milo. "I have no involvement with Arkham after my unfortunate.. incident there last time. Dreadful place. After that, I've resolved to not go back there. I've kept my nose clean." He sits down on the couch and crosses his legs. "Of course you know that or you'd have entered by the window and there would be smoke bombs and punching and such," he says, looking very dapper.
"You're lying," Batman accuses Milo in blunt tones. "I have evidence of you going to Arkham and meeting with at least one person there." The Dark Knight takes a few steps forward, looming over the seated man.
The Teen Wonder crosses his arms and looks menacing.
Milo looks up and gives the Batman a blank look followed by a small smile. "Batman. If you had /evidence/ we wouldn't be having this conversation," he says, all bright-eyed. Still, there is some sweating and his left eye twitches madly, the lid fluttering up and down from tension.
A definate tell that Professor Achilles Milo does NOT have...
The Dark Knight springs into action, attempting to seize Milo by the front of his shirt. "What conversation would that be?" he taunts in a low voice.
The man yelps and tries to scramble away but he's easily caught and lifted, feet kicking in air. "Nooo! No, Batman, unhand me! Police! Assault!" he yelps as he struggles, comparatively frail hands batting at Batman's powerfully-muscled arm.
"The police aren't coming to help you," Batman informs the struggling man. He cocks back his left arm and aims a powerful punch for Milo's stomach. If the man wasn't willing to talk, maybe Batman could thrash some answers out of him.
The man makes a gurgling sound as the air whooshes out of him and he cries out. "Please, please, no amount of money is worth this.." the man says, his voice changing slightly. "No more.." he whines.
He certainly has the 'cowardly' of 'a cowardly and superstitious lot' down pat...
Batman gives the Professor a shake, like a terrier with a rat. "Who are you? Where is Milo?" he demands in a rough voice.
Agga agga agga! "I'm.. I'm Harvey Corwall, an actor. This guy, this Milo, he paid me to act like him," the man groans, pawing weakly at that steel-muscled arm. "I ain't.. I ain't seen him for months! He sends me m-money, cash, every week, swear that's all I know!!"
A snarl curls Batman's lips. "Your job is over," he tells Harvey in no uncertain terms. "How does he pay you?" he asks, still not releasing the actor.
Harvey swallows hard; he's sweating, shaking his head, ineffectually pulling on Batman's gloved hand holding him off the ground. "Cash! An envelope, in my mailbox! Every Friday!" he groans.
Harvey also points to a small manila envelope on the table, still fat with cash.
Batman tosses Harvey down on the couch. "Don't move," he orders the man, picking up the manila envelope. He turns it over in his hands, looking at it from all angles.
Harvey swallows hard; he's sweating, shaking his head, ineffectually pulling on Batman's gloved hand holding him off the ground. "Cash! An envelope, in my mailbox! Every Friday!" he groans.
Harvey also points to a small manila envelope on the table, still fat with cash.
Batman tosses Harvey down on the couch. "Don't move," he orders the man, picking up the manila envelope. He turns it over in his hands, looking at it from all angles.
The envelope clearly has some stains on it, and some dirt, and very possibly some sweat drops. About a $1,000.00 in small used bills is still inside.
"I want the keys to this apartment and the mailbox," Batman informs Harvey in no uncertain tones. He passes the envelope to Robin for safekeeping.
Harvey knows by this time that the jig is well and truly up. He's broken completely, and looks more resigned to his fate than anything else. "Can.. I can I have the money?" he says in a weak voice.
Batman actually chortles at the pathetic question. But his good humor quickly evaporates like water in a desert. "No," he answers Harvey, his tone firm and leaving not room for argument. "Keys. Where are they?"
Harvey looks /very/ disappointed, and points to the nearby coffee table. "There. There are not any dupes," he says. He pauses. "Unless Milo has them. I assume he would," the man says, mopping his forehead.
"Call Gordon," Batman instructs Robin as he gathers up the keys to the apartment, the mailbox and the keycard for the building. "Tell him we've got a person of interest here that he might want to interrogate."
Robin pulls out the micro-phone on his belt and does so, the conversation quick and to the point. "So now what?" the Teen Wonder says as he clicks the tiny comm and puts it back up. "Harvey here doesn't know where Milo is holed up."
"I'm hoping we can get some forensic evidence off the envelope," Batman replies. "Or else we'll need to stake out Arkham and see if he shows himself again."
Robin nods, his lips in a tight line. He starts to say something, then looks at Harvey and closes his mouth; he waits to follow the Dark Knight's lead on this.
Keenly attuned to Robin's moods and mannerisms, Batman looks back to Harvey, lips pursed in thought. "Sure you don't have anything else to say," he asks the man seated on the couch, taking a menacing step forward.
Harvey shakes his head furiously and holds up his hands. "No, no! I swear, I've told you everything I know!" He looks at the two costumed figures frantically, sweat beading on his brow.
Batman subsides. The man looked just about scared straight. "Just remember, I'm on good terms with the police," the Dark Knight gives a final reminder. He crosses his arms and simply stares at Harvey, waiting until Gotham PD show up to take him into custody.
Minutes later, the cops arrive and take Harvey downtown for some questioning, leaving the costumed pair alone in the loft. Robin looks to Batman. "I wonder if I should be the new lab tech Arkham hires? Should I try to actually apply, or do you think we can trust that they have not be infiltrated to just out-and-out ask them to place me?" he says, arms folded. "That way we catch Milo out when he tries to suborn the new kid, and wrap this up!"
"That's risky," Batman says, sounding a bit doubtful. "Sure you're up for it?"
The Teen Wonder squares his shoulders. "I've fought demons and giant robots, Batman. I think I can take down a skinny lab-geek con-artist," he says with a smile.
"All right," Batman agrees, placing his faith in the Teen Wonder. "Let's get back to the Batcave and work on your disguise and resume."
Soon enough, the Dynamic Duo are back within the Batcave. Batman heads to the computer to begin building a fake identity and resume for Robin. "Think of a name you want to use?" he asks.
Robin heads to his own set of consoles and pulls up his own facial scans. "I thought about using a set we used last year, for that frat club case - being a blond makes me look older, for some reason. And I thought about just 'Tom White'," he says. "It's easy to remember."
"That'll work," Batman says in an agreeable tone. He begins, pulling up the relevant files and amending them where necessary. It doesn't take too incredibly long to build a fake life for one Tom White. "Anything you want me to add special?"
"That I have like nine girlfriends," he mutters as he goes to choose the correct wig and makeup packs - with the resume Batman is crafting and his own personable manner, getting the interview and job should be a shoe-in. "Nothing in particular - if we're lucky this only has to last a week or two at best."
Robin looks back over to Batman. "Depends on how long he takes to make contact. Meanwhile.. Zach had some interesting insights into this case, from a story he read. I think Milo might have gotten some inspiration from it."
Batman chuckles. "Nine girlfriends? Should I name them all after flowers?" he retorts, teasing Robin in return. "What did Zachary have to say?"
Robin mock-glares at Batman. "Flowers. Funny," he says flatly. "I took him to the original crime site just to make sure we were not dealing with actual magic. He brought up a Lovecraft story called 'Cool Air'. The similarity is very close. Guy has a treatment that extends his life, but he has to stay cold. Very cold. Or he just liquifies."
It'd been a while since Batman had read Lovecraft, but it's easy enough to pull up a synopsis on the Batcomputer. "Interesting," he comments in a soft tone as he reads the website. "What do you think?"
Robin shrugs. "Milo is a grade-A crazy person so Lovecraft might appeal to him. And he DID create a real werewolf serum. So it's certainly within his capabilities. I wonder if he tells people that his treatment has a huge side-effect. Then again when you're talking about someone's life.. they will grasp at anything."
"I think Taylor was desperate, so you're right on that account," Batman says, adding a few final details to the Tom White persona before beginning to print the necessary documents for Robin's use. "But dissolving into a giant puddle of slime is one hell of a side effect. I wonder if it was intended or simply an accident?"
Robin snorts. "I can't believe Milo bothered to find out. It would make one hell of a blackmail tool, though. 'Oh, by the by, if you ever stop the treatments or even turn off your air-conditioning, you die horribly in minutes'. I can maybe see him doing that."
"I wouldn't put it past him," Batman admits. It's not that he likes that particular vein of thought, but it does seem to suit the tactics of Achilles Milo. "Do you think Taylor was paying him off? Where is Milo getting the cash to hire that actor?"
"Or to bribe the assistants. It would probably be a lot. I mean he basically discovered a cancer cure at the very least. Kinda. Sorta." Robin comes over to sort through the Tom White documents, the boy's keen mind memorizing the information almost at once. He's not an 'at a glance' speed-reader like Batman, but he's pretty good at absorbing a lot of info at once. "He could probably charge whatever he wanted. I bet at least some of those extraordinary sums flowing out of Taylor's accounts were actually to Milo - Taylor was very skilled at hiding his tracks. It took us weeks to untangle his trail to begin with."
"Let's keep digging into Taylor's money. I hope there will be some clue there that links him to Milo," Batman says, resting his elbows on the armrests of the chair and steepling his fingers as he spins the chair around to face Robin. It was actually quite a comfortable chair. "Don't forget to run forensics on that envelope we took off of Harvey."
"Yessir," Robin says as he looks through the documents again. "Using that amount of physical cash is harder than it sounds, at the level of payments Milo was probably charging. Though he probably has a couple of laundering operations which would make that much easier. I should check for that, first," he says, already working things out.
"Normal people don't just have a thousand dollars laying around the house," Batman points out. "So Milo has been getting cash somewhere, somehow."
Robin nods as he sits down to take some samples from the envelope and the cash. He takes off his mask and puts on the safety goggles, then spends several quiet minutes carefully looking over the envelope with lighted magnifiers and scraping samples onto slides and prepped machine-readable media. He slots several of these into a carousel for the bat-analyser to run it's tests on, then he begins to examine several of the bills under high-powered microscopes.
Batman turns back to the computer, now tapping away at the keyboard as he runs additional traces on Taylor's accounts. It's a tangle of offshore banks and shell companies, but he's determined to ferret out all the information that he can.