ROGUES GALLERY: The First Night (WINNER: STALEMATE)

[Master Mew]

​

May 21 - Manhattan Central Bank
9:36 P.M. U.S. Eastern Standard Time
New York, New York

The alarms were silent... the halls were vacant... the guards were tied and gagged... the power was out... and the Bank President was strapped to a chair inside the now empty vault, silent with a look of fear and bewilderment on his face as a figure clad in black leather and vinyl paced back and forth before him, a smug smirk adorning what little of the cat-burglar's face was visible behind his form-fitted black headgear.

"My, my... what will you do now?" Prowler began in a mocking tone, a sneer slinking across his features as he continued to pace, never so much as looking at his helpless captive, "All your ill-gotten cash... gone! In the blink of an eye..."

Still pacing, notably ignoring his prisoner, he continued, "I don't think I heard you, I believe I asked you a question, Thomas Sharp... What will you do? Report it? Report the theft of the millions of dollars you never should have had in the first place? Somehow I doubt it...

"I think I know exactly what you'll do, Thomas my dear friend..." he continued, tauntingly, before ceasing his pacing suddenly, turning to face the Bank President for the first time, meeting his eyes with a piercing glare as he crept up close and crouched down in a distinctly predatory position, his face now a mere inch from his captive, "NOTHING... Just like your criminal investors. They'll keep their lips sealed tight, wouldn't want the police sniffing around in your affairs, would you?"

The man shuddered, visibly shaken, "You won't get away with this!" he spat, his voice shaking.

"Oh, I will, Thomas Sharp, I will..." Prowler shot back, mockingly. "In fact, you're going to help me..."

"What?" Thomas replied, the older gentleman's features suddenly alarmed.

"Come on, Tommy, let's go for a drive..." Prowler said in a deep, growly, excited voice as he reached down to his side, retrieving a coil of long, black rope, a 'Cat o' Nine Tails' fastened to its end, with nine sharpened steel shurikens fastened to it. Raising it behind his back, he snapped it swiftly around toward Thomas, the once stately Bank President clenching his eyes and shrieking in terror, before the weapon harmlessly coiled itself around the chair-leg, the shurikens punching into the wooden leg, securing it. Just as Thomas took a deep breath, calming himself, Prowler gave the rope a firm yank, flipping the chair onto its side, the man crying out in pain as he, still tied to the chair, slammed shoulder first into the marble floor.

Wasting no time on petty sympathy, the Prowler drug his prey deliberately out of the vault and down the hall, eventually dragging him all the way outside to the sidewalk, where a black van was waiting. Now in too much agony to resist, Thomas was unbound and heaved into the driver's seat, where he was swiftly tied once more, his torso secured to the seat, his hands to the steering wheel, and both feet to the gas pedal. The fastenings appeared to be fashioned from a grainy, almost paper-like substance, nonetheless the captive was now weakened beyond the capability of escape. Glancing into the rear-view mirror, he saw hundreds of stacks of dollar bills filled the back of the van. Prowler quickly climbed into the passenger-seat, Thomas Sharp, once the proud, upper-class Bank President, now bloody, disheveled and distinctly terrified as he turned to face his captor.

"Drive," the burglar said abruptly.

"...Drive... where...?" Thomas inquired.

"Straight," the Prowler replied.

______________________________________________________​

May 22 - Bank of the Hudson River
7:12 A.M. U.S. Eastern Standard Time
New York, New York

A black van is found waterlogged at the bottom of the river, inside is the body of Bank President Thomas Sharp - his papery bindings having disintegrated in the water overnight, along with millions of dollars in destroyed bills. He is alone. An apparent suicide.

 

[Godzillawolf]

Re: Rogues Gallery: The First Night (Godzillawolf & Master Mew)

May 22 - Coroner's Office
12 A.M. U.S. Eastern Standard Time
New York, New York

Detective Jarrett Holmes walked down the hallway, following a police officer and the coroner. He looked around as they went through a door and down a hall, steel drawers in the walls, many containing bodies awaiting the Coroner's attention or having already been examined and awaiting transport to a funeral home. He then remembered why he was here.

"Bank President Thomas Sharp was found dead this morning in the Hudson River, millions of dollars in money with him," had said the Police Chief over the phone. "I know you were investigating him, Jarrett, looks like you were right about that scheme of his. Too bad he went to the grave with it. We're ruling a suicide, but we'd like you to come look at the body. I've got a feeling this case isn't as open and shut as it seems like, and you're good at picking up things others miss."

Jarrett and the group surronded a table with a body covered in a white sheet. "Uncover him," he said, putting on a pair of gloves. The policeman pulled back the sheet to reveal the water loged body of Thomas Sharp. Jarrett looked closely. "No gun shot wound..." he said, examining the corpse. "Or knife strike...but driving yourself into the Hudson to drown yourself with all that money is a bad way to die, not something many suicide attemptees try...though he may have been trying to make a statement..." he said, then looked at the hands closely. He lightly ran his finger across his wrist, feeling a slight indent in the skin. He walked over to the other arm and felt the same area, discovering a simular indent. He looked up at the coroner. "I think I've got my ideas why happened, but I want your opinion first," he said. "What is your guess about this man's death?"

OOC: Mind being the Coroner? That way we can have some interaction here.

 

[Master Mew]

Re: Rogues Gallery: The First Night (Godzillawolf & Master Mew)

OOC: Sure, works for me.

"Well..." the coroner responded slowly, stroking his chin lightly, "there are clear signs of recent trauma; foul play might be involved, but I fail to see how, given the circumstances... My best guess is a combination of self-abuse and wounds from the crash into the river."

"What are your thoughts, detective?"

 

[Godzillawolf]

Re: Rogues Gallery: The First Night (Godzillawolf & Master Mew)

"Look here at the wrists," said Jarrett, holding up the hands and pointing to the indents on the wrists. "These indents are consistant with someone having binded his hands," he explained. "But they're at a slight angle facing fowards. That would mean whatever they were tied to was in front of them at the him," he explained. "Several guards were found at the bank were tied up. Sharp is not a physically powerful man," he explained. "There's little way he could've taken down those guards himself and made off with the money, particularally if he was abusing himself."

Jarrett circled him. "I'd say whoever knocked out those guards also sent Sharp to his watery grave," he explained. "Sharp was being investigated for embellizing and helping criminals store their own stolen green. Perhaps he ticked off the wrong man or someone he'd swendled just snapped. But this was no accident or suicide. Someone sent Sharp to his death on purpose."

 

[Master Mew]

Re: Rogues Gallery: The First Night (Godzillawolf & Master Mew)

"No doubt there was some sort of break-in at the Bank," the coroner replied, "but you think the would-be thief caused this? Why make off with all that money only to destroy it?"

 

[Godzillawolf]

Re: Rogues Gallery: The First Night (Godzillawolf & Master Mew)

"That I can't be sure," said Jarrett. "But there are some people who aren't in it for the money, they're in it for something else," he explained. "The evidence points towards an enemy of Sharp's, perhaps they wanted to make sure not only was Sharp killed, but he's be revealed for the money hungry criminal he was," he said. "If they'd taken the money with them, Sharp would've died and no one would know for sure that money ever existed. By burying it with Sharp, they made sure we saw the truth about him...my guess, this was a vigiliante taking the law into his own hand, making himself judge, jury, and executioner."

 

[Master Mew]

Re: Rogues Gallery: The First Night (Godzillawolf & Master Mew)

"Unthinkable..." the coroner muttered. "Are you sure?"

__________________________________________________________

FLASHBACK​

October 12 - Three Years Ago - County Courtroom
4:00 P.M. U.S. Central Standard Time
Saint Louis, Missouri

An eighteen-year-old Troy Foster sits in the crowded courtroom, alongside a slew of police officers, attorneys, private investigators, news reporters, and curious citizens as the judge prepared to read the long-awaited verdict. The man accused of mutilating, dismembering, and brutally murdering nine innocents, including both of Troy's parents, sitting calmly across from him, a maddeningly confident smile on his face as the the judge cleared his throat.

The seasoned judge of 23 years failed to maintain his composure as the verdict was read, a look of disappointment and shame for the criminal justice system painting his face as he read aloud, in a quaking voice, "Not... guilty... by lack of evidence."

 

[Godzillawolf]

Re: Rogues Gallery: The First Night (Godzillawolf & Master Mew)

Jarrett nodded. "There are many who believe the criminal justice system is flawed and can't be trusted to carry out it's work," he said. "One of those people may take things too far than our friend Detective Fate, who simply captures criminals and provides evidence of the crime," he explained. "They may have not only found out what Sharp did but took the law into their own hands," he continued. "And sadly, I can understand those people, as I've seen murderer's get off free."

-----------------------------------------

FLASHBACK

Jarrett snarled, punching the wall as the verdict was read. "Darn it!" he muttered. "That monster is going to get off scot free because of this..." he whispered, walking out of the courtroom. Later, when the man was lead out, Jarrett walked up and looked him in the eye. "Sir...I swear, some day, some how, you will pay for what you've done," he whispered. "I will personally make sure that someday, you're sitting in a cell, with the pictures of all your victims staring at you day in and day out for the rest of your life," he whispered, marching off. That was bait, simple as that. He'd already analyzed this psycho inside and out. He now believed Jarrett knew something about him that could land him in trouble. Someone as evil and psychopathic as this couldn't resist trying to make sure he remained scotfree. And Jarrett would be waiting for him when he came.

 

[Master Mew]

Re: Rogues Gallery: The First Night (Godzillawolf & Master Mew)

"Well, if you're right," the coroner began, contemplating this, "then I hope you're right about it all. Hopefully this was a personal vendetta, and with Sharp dead, our vigilante won't feel the need to act again."

__________________________________________________________

FLASHBACK​

As onlookers began filtering out of the courtroom, murmuring back and forth between each other about the ludicrous sentencing, Troy remained in his seat, in shock. Lowering his head, his breathing became slow and deep, as he tried to wrap his mind around how this could have happened. That monster had mutilated and murdered his family, and he was going right back out on the street. He came to with a start when he felt a hand on his shoulder, looking up to see the judge looking down at him, a remorseful look in his eyes.

"I'm sorry son, there was nothing I could do."

When Troy didn't respond, the judge turned and slowly made his way out of the courtroom.

 

[Godzillawolf]

Re: Rogues Gallery: The First Night (Godzillawolf & Master Mew)

Jarrett sighed. "I'm afraid it may not be that simple," he said. "Whoever was behind this went through a lot of trouble to plan this out," he explained. "This wasn't a crime of passion, it was premediated. The one who did this thought it out well in advance and they knew what they were doing."

-------------------------------

FLASHBACK

Jarrett walked up to Troy. "Hey, I'm sorry that scumbag got off the hook," he explained. "But just so you know, I'm not letting this case be closed and I will get the evidence on that monster and make sure he gets put behind bars for good."

 

[Master Mew]

Re: Rogues Gallery: The First Night (Godzillawolf & Master Mew)

May 25 - Titan Investment Corporate Headquarters
12:09 A.M. U.S. Eastern Standard Time
New York, New York

The silhouette of the masked cat-burglar Prowler emerged from behind the corner of a neighboring building, standing on a sixth floor terrace, the still bustling city now illuminated only by the moonlight, the headlights of the cars on the busy street below, and a single illuminated office window on the 42nd floor of the Titan Investment Corporation's office building. Glancing around quickly, he removed both bladed whips from his sides. Lashing one around the railing of the balcony, he dropped of the side of the building, swinging quickly up and under the balcony. Kicking forcefully off the wall, he propelled himself forcefully toward the neighboring building. As he reached the end of his line, now momentarily suspended over the center of the busy street below, he quickly lashed out the second whip, the steel shurikens on the end punching deep into the side of a stone gargoyle on the neighboring building. Gripping the handle of the first whip, the blades of the shurikens retracted, releasing the balcony as the cat-burglar swung quietly across the gap, bracing his feet as they met the building's stone exterior. Retracting the second whip, Prowler's sharp-fingered gloves slid quickly in between the masonry of the structure as he began to scale the building with surprising speed.

__________________________________________________________​

"...I hope you're right." Troy said at length, before he stood up quickly, averting eye-contact and walked quickly out of the courtroom.

 

[Godzillawolf]

Re: Rogues Gallery: The First Night (Godzillawolf & Master Mew)

The shadowy figure of the faceless Detective Fate ran across several rooves, jumping from building to building. He was considering what had happened to Sharp, giving it thought. "If this is part of a pattern, who else would he target?" he asked, thinking at he looked around. "Sharp had several criminal clients, I was investigating leads on those people..." he continued, thinking. "Perhaps..." he said, taking out his notes on the Sharp investigation. "There was a CEO of Titan Investment who I was investigating for embelizing who may have had money lent to Mr. Sharp...there were several mob bosses as well, but they're underground. Sharp was hiding in plan sight. If revealing criminals to the world was the killer's motivation, the most likely target would be someone in position of power and whom was in plan sight...." he said. "I'd better check out Titan Investment..." he said, running off that way. "If nothing more, I can get some dirt onf that CEO."

-----------------------------

Jarrett sighed. "Poor kid...I know what it's like to lose everything you have..." he said, heading out and heading back to his office. He then called the prosecuting attorny from the case today. "Hey, it's Jarrett. Look, I'm still investigating that case today. If it's not too much to ask, could you please file for an appeal," he said. "I have a feeling that I might be able to get you the evidence you need, but you'll need to get the desicion overturned. But since this was on lack of evidence, the case wasn't very strong."

 

[Master Mew]

Re: Rogues Gallery: The First Night (Godzillawolf & Master Mew)

Having stealthily scaled his way to the illuminated 42nd floor window, Prowler peered inside, watching as the wealthy CEO Leonard Watkins worked late into the night. His presumptions were correct, the CEO had waited until the majority of the building was vacated before pouring over the self-incriminating paperwork. With all his ill-invested money in the bottom of the Hudson, some sketchy late-night accounting was in order...

Prowler tensed suddenly, inclining his head as he listened; he had heard an unexpected rustling, but not from inside - from on the roof...

Electing not to wait a second long, he extended his leg forcefully, smashing the window to pieces as he leapt quickly inside the dimly lit office, the CEO letting loose a shout in surprise, before letting loose a string of profanities.

"Time's short, Lenny, so I'll make this quick," Prowler snarled, cracking his whip within inches of the cowering CEO's face.

Gasping for air, the CEO gained a sudden second wind of confidence, "Time?! How busy could a circus freak like you possibly be?! Get the he—"

"Not my time. Yours."

 

[Godzillawolf]

Re: Rogues Gallery: The First Night (Godzillawolf & Master Mew)

Fate heard the crash and attached the end of his grappling hook to the side of the building, repeling down to the window below, climbing in. "My hunch was correct," he said, looking at Prowler. "You killed Sharp last night, now you've gone after his most publically renowned cilent," he explained. "Though even if you hadn't been coming here, I was anyway, probably for a simular reason as you did," he stated, looking over both of them. "But I don't intend to kill, mister Watkins, I just came to grab some incriminating evidence, like those papers presently on his desk, and arrest him," he explained, retracting the grappling hook into his cane. "But sense he's been caught red handed with them, being sneaky isn't required...however, I'm afraid I cannot allow you to kill him, it'll be up to a jury to decide this man's fate."

 

[Master Mew]

Re: Rogues Gallery: The First Night (Godzillawolf & Master Mew)

"Juries can be bought," Prowler spat, before turning to Watkins with a cruel smile, "I'm priceless." He then grabbed the man by the shirt-collar while simultaneously shoving him forcefully backward into his panoramic office-window, sending shattered glass everywhere as the CEO dangled over the edge of the building, only the tips of his shoes braced against the edge.

"Ah... that's better, now we're in a position where we can talk... Now, I know why I'm here..." he began, turning his head to face Detective Fate, still supporting Watkings by his shirt-collar. "Why are you?"

 

[Godzillawolf]

Re: Rogues Gallery: The First Night (Godzillawolf & Master Mew)

"Two reasons," said Fate, not budging. "One, to track you down for the murder of Sharp," he said, looking out the window at Watkins. "And second, to get enough evidence to send that guy to jail for life," he explained. "And as for buying the jury, how can he?" he asked. "You destroyed all his money last night, he's got nothing to bribe anyone with," he explained looking to Watkins. "Is that right, Jerry? Or where you intending to use the illegal offshore assets that I just reported to Interpol last night and which are now frozen indefiently while you are being investigated?"

 

[Master Mew]

Re: Rogues Gallery: The First Night (Godzillawolf & Master Mew)

"Ah..." Prowler retorted with a smirk, "and so the Forces of Justice have been working a step ahead of me, and you stand poised to ensure Justice is served; my work is done, and my crusade is at an end. Is that what you were hoping for?"

 

[Godzillawolf]

Re: Rogues Gallery: The First Night (Godzillawolf & Master Mew)

"Not particularally," said Fate. "But given I don't really like fighting people who seem to have good intentioned, I thought I might try to talk you out of killing him so we wouldn't need to fight," he continued. "I was hoping you'd just let me take him in and put him in prison, and we wouldn't have to trash this nice office or you wouldn't throw him out the window and I'd have to save him while you get away. It's really quite a hassel and I was hoping we could avoid going through that."

 

[Master Mew]

Re: Rogues Gallery: The First Night (Godzillawolf & Master Mew)

"Your plan really does sound quite intriguing, and you seem to have put a lot of thought into it... trouble is, that still leaves me having wasted all this time and effort to get here only to fail to see my goals realized, not to mention the fact that I'd have to deal with you," Prowler retorted, now glaring at the unwelcome guest, "Because, as I can see quite clearly now, with your obsessive fixation for justice, you would never let me exit gracefully."

"In short, I fail to see the benefit."

 

[Godzillawolf]

Re: Rogues Gallery: The First Night (Godzillawolf & Master Mew)

"Well the guy gets life in prison," said Fate. "And while falling to his death would be karmic, it'd be over quickly," he explained. "Men like him, it's all about the money and all the comforts it brings. Now would life in a nasty prison cell, having lost everything he owned with nothing but the basic needs to live for the rest of his miserably life be worse than a quick, realitively painless death for a man like that?"