A/N: Wow, hey everybody! Thanks for your reviews and the enthusiasm I'm picking up! Awesome! Well, I've tweaked some of the character's names and there was some confusion over whether or not Vivian was Starfire, so here's an updated list of the characters:
Robin: Dick Grayson
Starfire: Kori Anders
Cyborg: Victor Stone (Vic)
Beast Boy: Garfield Logan (Gar)
Raven: Rae Roth
Bumblebee: Beatrice Honey (Bea)
Jinx: Jennifer Hive (nicknamed Jinx)
Blackfire: Komille Anders
Aqualad: Garth Waters
Speedy: Roy Harper
Mas y Menos: José and Ferdinand Masemos
Kitten: Kitten Moth
Vivian Caldswell: Vivian Caldswell (OC)
Well, hope you all dig! Thanks so much!
Review Responses:
Scathac's Warrior: Hey man thanks for reading this story too! Thanks for sending in a review my friend, I really appreciate it. I hope you understand the story as it progresses; it will make more sense as more clues are revealed. Thanks so much and I can't wait to hear from you again! Peace and rock on!
Severine Flower: Thanks for checking out this story too man! Thanks for the review! I really appreciate your compliments, glad your digging my story! Vivian isn't Kori, you'll find out more about both as the story continues on. Their physical appearance does seem similar though, huh? Thanks for your review and I can't wait for another! Peace and rock on!
Dizzy-and-delirious: Hey man thanks for the review! Glad I got a gasp out of you. :) Hope you dig my story and I cannot wait to hear from you again! Enjoy! Peace and rock on!
Rose/Jackalobe: Hey man thanks for checking out this one as well! I hope you dig this one too! And no, Vivian isn't Starfire, good guess. I can't wait for another one of your reviews! Enjoy the story man! Peace and rock on!
Starfire-is-not-a-wimp: Hey man thanks for checking out this one too! I really appreciate it, and hope you dig it. That's awesome to hear your enthusiasm, I really appreciate it man. Can't wait for another review! Peace and rock on!
They-Call-Me-Orange: Hey man, I've got you in on this one too! Yay, I love your reviews so much, you're full of so much enthusiasm! Thanks man! I'm glad you're digging it so far. You'll find out about Raven's character as the story progresses, I don't want to give anything away because I'm going to present clues through the story man. Thank you for the compliments, glad you dig my AUs. Can't wait to hear from you again, and I'll aim to get to your story man! Peace and rock on!
Disappear/Syani: Hey man thanks for checking out my story! I hope you dig it, it sounds like you'll feel all the jazz and trench coat-y goodness! I can't wait to hear from you again man! I hope you enjoy the chapter! Peace and rock on!
Writerofmoredoom: Hey man thanks for checking out my story! I'm definitely going to add subtle hints and clues as the story develops. I hope you dig them! The story should be definitely starting up fast in the next chapter, the first one was a preface and this one is sort of an introductory chappie. Anyways, I hope you still dig all of it. I can't wait for another review and hope you enjoy! Peace and rock on!
Spitfire F.22: Hey man thanks for checking this out! Ha ha, Cy and the T-Car is awesome man. Thanks so much for your review and I hope to see another one very soon! Enjoy! Peace and rock on!
Raveninthedark: Hey man thanks for checking this out too! I hope you dig! Thanks for the compliments! I'm sorry your confused my friend, hopefully it will all become clearer as the story progresses. Can't wait to hear from you again, hope you like this next chappie! Peace and rock on!
Starfirefan05: Hey man thanks for checking this out! I hope you dig the story! Glad you like it so far! Hope you enjoy the next chapter, more of the vocab my friend. :D I can't wait to hear from you again! Peace and rock on!
Chapter Two: And So It Begins…
August 15th, 1954
11:08 PM
Detective Dick Grayson walked into the Caldswell Paradise Hotel. He was shocked at what he saw. The place had such a reputation for being such a lively, buzzing place full of a social crowd who laughed and conversed merrily. He heard that the rooms were drowned with famous saxophone players, genius pianists, and gifted singers. It was said to be the place where everybody who was anybody frequented.
This place was nothing like that.
The air itself seemed laden with a guilt and fear. The room seemed to be lacking in the bright colors; it almost looked like a dull gray fog swam around the room.
People were sitting at tables, talking in hushed voices. Dick looked around, wondering where to begin.
"Detective Grayson?" The tall man turned around. He saw an elderly looking man with silver hair and bright green eyes. He was wearing a black suit; his eyes weighted with dark bags and his skin a sallow color.
"Yes. And you are…" Dick questioned. The man put out his hand, saying,
"Geoffrey Caldswell. Please, follow me; I'll have my assistant talk to you. I'm sorry, but I'm in no shape…my…my daughter just…"
Dick held up a hand. "I know. I'm sorry. I truly am." Geoffrey looked at the ground, his eyes obviously wet, and slowly led Dick to the back of the hotel. The detective looked around, seeing the wide and fearful eyes of people sitting at tables. Dick carried on, his trench coat billowing behind him in his long and powerful strides.
"Detective Grayson, right through here please. My assistant is waiting," Geoffrey said, looking at the ground and opening the door. Dick nodded, and walked inside. There was a window letting in pale moonlight through the white blinds. A desk sat in front of it, with a big emblem on the front.
"Grayson?" A man asked. He was sitting behind the desk. His hair was dark red, his face sharp and jagged. His eyes were small and black.
"Yes. May I have a seat?" The detective asked, making a gesture to the plush velvet seat pulled up to the seat. The man nodded.
"My name is Henry O'Connell. I'm the personal assistant to Mr. Caldswell. I'm here to discuss his daughter's murder with you, I believe?" He asked. He seemed somewhat pained to remember the events of last night.
"Yes. I've been sent to investigate," Dick said, pulling out a sheet of paper and pen from his pocket. "May I ask you some questions?"
"Of course," Henry said, nodding quickly. "I'm here to serve. Mr. Caldswell has been good to me, given me, my wife and kids a good living."
"Seems like it. Nice emblem on the desk," Dick said, gazing at it. It had a shield with a C on it with ivy wrapping around it.
"Caldswell family emblem." Henry said dismissively.
"All right. Let's see…how long have you been working for Mr. Caldswell?" Dick questioned.
"Twenty seven years. I was hired three years before Vivian was born. Beautiful baby, grew into a lovely young woman…" Tears pushing to escape through his throat choked off his voice.
"I know…I mean, she must've been…I'm sorry. I'll- I'll move on. How long had the party been going on before her body was found?" Dick asked.
"It had started fifteen minutes earlier. One of our butlers said an old high school friend of Vivian's ran into him. He asked if he could check up to see if she would be joining us, and he ran back down screaming that she was dead…"
"Victor Stone, right?" Dick questioned, scribbling notes onto his paper. Henry nodded his head. "He was the last one to see Vivian alive?"
"I'm assuming. Before the party started she went up to her room to take a bath, change, write a letter…" A smile fluttered softly onto his face. "She was always writing letters…"
"Yeah…Get too many of them, bills and such…But did Victor Stone say how she was killed? Any obvious signs?" Dick asked.
"No, I'm not sure how. I'm not sure I want to," Henry's voice dropped to a whisper. "I'm sorry I don't know… No one has been in the room though, besides the other officers. Everything was left as it was found, except for Vivian's body. They…took her. I'm sorry, I don't know how she was killed though…"
"It's all right," Dick said through gritted teeth. "I'll find out some way…So, you're saying fifteen minutes into the party Victor Stone went upstairs to summon Vivian, only to find her dead?" Dick asked, reviewing his notes.
"True." Henry stated.
"The coroner report said that she had been dead more than two hours though…so her body must have been in there before the party started."
Henry's eyes grew larger. "She must have been…there weren't many people there that day…Tuesday. Today is Tuesday. I am already speaking of today as if it were a long time ago…seems like it."
"Yes. Time does strange things," Dick said, internally sighing that he just wanted to get some facts. "Is there any way I could get a list of all of the employees present during and around the time of seven o'clock? I would also like a list of all the guests who were at the hotel at the same time." Dick requested.
"Of course, detective. Of course." Henry said, standing up and heading out the door. "Be back in a moment, sir."
Dick nodded and the man hurried from the room. Dick waited for five minutes, eyes glancing over the room. Mr. Caldswell sure did have a lot of money to his name…
"Detective Grayson?" Dick looked up to see Henry walk through the door. He handed him a sheet of paper. "These are our employees who were on shift and the guests who were at the hotel." Dick glanced down at the paper.
Employees Garth Waters (bartender)Komille Anders (waitress)
Kori Anders (lounge singer)
José Masemos (waiter)
Ferdinand Masemos (waiter)
Beatrice Honey (maid)
Jennifer Hive (maid)
Guests Garfield LoganRoy Harper
David Patrick
Rae Roth
Kitten Moth
Victor Stone
"I hope this is of assistance?" Henry asked hopefully.
"Very. I'll be sure to question these people. Try to find motives, alibis…did you book me a room?" Dick asked. Henry nodded again.
"We have. A fine room at that. Suite 173, second floor, last door on the right hand hallway. You can take the elevator or the staircase, either will get you there." Henry explained.
"Excellent. I'll be sure to check everything out very quickly. Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. O'Connell." Dick said, standing up and shaking his hand.
"Of course, detective. I hope Vivian can come to see justice very soon. Please, we all loved her so much, you must solve this case." Henry begged, eyes wide with anxiety.
"I'll try my best. I'll try my best."
August 15th, 1954
Dick walked out of the office. He put the slips of paper into his chest pocket, and headed for the staircase. He had a scowl on his face, agitated that he couldn't begin his interrogations quite yet. It was nearly midnight, and it was out of a matter of respect that he wasn't searching down every name on his list. Many of the guests had left to their homes after being comforted by police officers, and the hotel held only sparse groupings of a few guests, and solemn looking employees scurrying on with their duties half-heartedly.
The detective was about to head up to his room when he heard lyrics float around his head. He turned, to see the lounge to his right. Curious at the flowing melodies, Dick turned and went inside.
The room was elegant and dark, having a cherry wood stage with a bright spotlight. There were round, black tables with small candles on them providing dim light. A few people sat at them, drowning their misfortune in drinks and the music of a pianist and a young woman.
Dick noticed the young woman illuminated in the spotlight. He froze up, stiff and taking in her beauty. She had tan skin, glowing in the light. She had long red hair that hung down to her back, and her green eyes looked over the audience with remorse as she whispered out her ballad. She was wearing a flowing white gown that accentuated her skin tone, eyes and hair wonderfully. Dick found himself sitting down at the nearest seat.
The singer continued on with her lyrics. She seemed to hypnotize everyone in the audience, drawing them into something that he was unsure of at the moment. Her voice slowly faded out, and the pianist let out a few chords before joining her in the empty spotlight. The stage darkened, and the two had disappeared.
Dick clapped slowly. His mind was still on that singer…his head was tilted to the side, a look of confusion subtly drawn into his usually stern features. Who was she?
"Dick Grayson?" The detective was rudely jerked from his thoughts. He looked up to see a tall, shadowed man hidden under a wide-brimmed hat.
"Yes?" He replied, mind still elsewhere.
"You are Detective Grayson?" The man repeated.
"I am." Dick said, wondering if this was going to turn into a waste of his time.
"I know something about Vivian Caldswell."
A/N: Well, another chappie and another cliffie! I hope everybody digs and can't wait to hear your thoughts! Please send in reviews! I totally love hearing all of your thoughts; I've gotten some really awesome comments so far! Can't wait to hear from all you cats again! Peace and rock on-
Earth Blues Baby