The Bats and the Shadow

Knocking came sounding through a bedroom. It persisted until the visitor got impatient and opened the door. The bedroom was empty. A confused Tim stood there in the doorway. “Hey Jason?!" 

       Jason stumbled sleepily out of a room. He had been catching some shut eye before patrol. “What?" 

       Tim would never get used to this. All of them under one roof. It was temporary, but the past few days since they found Laura and Bruce had her take him to the shadow realm had been weird to say the least, and a bit chaotic. “She's not in her room. Did you see her leave?" 

       “No." Jason was awake now. “That door has been shut since she came up from dinner." 

       “Bruce?! Bruce you down here?!" Tim and Jason both hollered as they rushed out of the secret elevator and around the BatCave. They had not found Laura anywhere and thus deemed her missing. Panic had set in and most everyone else was on patrol already. Except Duke who was now wide awake still scouring the upstairs. 

       “Master Thomas? What is all this ruckus about?" Alfred asked as he wandered out from the kitchen. 

       “Laura is missing!" 

       “She's not in the cave?" 

       “Wha-" 

    

       “Hey guys!" Duke rushed down to the cave and ran up to Tim and Jason. “She's here in the-" 

       "We figured that out.” Both of them looked tired and unamused as they looked over at the bat computer where Laura sat with a cup of tea warming her hands. 

        Her legs were tucked up to her chest and she gave a bashful smile. "I told Al.”

       "I told you we should have asked Al.” Jason wacked Tim's arm. 

       "You're supposed to be within shouting distance or visble to one of us at all times." Tim frowned. 

       “Sooo… Alfred knowing and me being in the most secure part of the manor isss not safe?” 

       "What are you even doing down here? You can't be on the batcomputer-” 

       *Paging Shadow. Come in Shadow.* Sounded over the comms. 

        "Is that Dick?” Tim's gaze narrowed. 

        Laura nodded. "I… well he mentioned something about a case he was working on here and I know one of the guys who's cousins with the brother of a goon’s girlfriend that works for the guy he's after. Family of crooks. It's all very… sad really.” She spun the chair around and pressed the comms. "I'm here Nightwing. And don't talk to me like that over the comms. I know how coms work.” 

       *I think I got eyes on the guy you mentioned. Was exactly where the cousin said he'd be. What'd you say to do again?*

       "You can't be in Nightwing gear, but if you approach him and tell him Shadow sent you, he'll spill any beans you want." 

        “You got a rep huh?" Jason leaned against the computer. 

         “Yeah. Comes with the way I had to live." 

         “Right… Dick mentioned you worked at a criminal bar. Where is that?" 

          “Can't tell you. It's a gold mine for Intel. Don't want you muckin it up."