Fic: The Raven And The Nightingale Book III: Cherry Blossoms (15/22)
Title: The Raven And The Nightingale Book III: Cherry Blossoms (15/22)
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters (this chapter): Bruce/Dick, Russell/Selina, Pamela Isley, Lana Lang, Lionel Luthor
Genres: Angst, AU, Drama, Historical, Mystery, Romance
Rating (this chapter): G
Warnings (this chapter): None
Spoilers: None
General Summary: Bruce and Dick get caught up in political intrigue during a business trip to Washington City.
Chapter Summary: Bruce gets a surprise while Dick finds out some new information.
Date Of Completion: April 29, 2020
Date Of Posting: May 22, 2022
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 1457
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Author’s Note: The entire series can be found here.
XV
Bad Penny
"Amazing how people from your past always pop up."
Rick Stanton
American Writer
July 1, 1896
The National Theatre swarmed with people as the special performance of Swan Lake was held to raise funds for the medical research laboratory. Bruce circulated among the crowd and his fellow Cannon Committee members were doing the same thing. Even Cannon and Belknap were here tonight.
"Well, Mr. Wayne, looks like a good crowd tonight," said Russell Daystrom cheerfully.
Bruce was surprised at the man's sunny disposition. He was usually dour.
Oh, well, galas affect people differently.
"Yes, we're doing good business tonight."
"Hello, darling."
"Ah, my sweet. Mr. Wayne, meet my companion."
Shock skittered along Bruce's nerves. "Selina?"
She smiled as she took Daystrom's arm. Her smile was dazzling as her lavender gown's bodice gleamed with pearls. A broad-brimmed hat with an enormous ostrich feather shaded her face. Diamonds sparkled at her ears.
"How are you, Bruce?"
"Fine "
"You know each other?" Daystrom asked.
"I used to dance for the Gotham Ballet Company," Selina said. "How is Dick?"
"Doing great. How was New York?"
"Splendid. I took a leave of absence from the company. I thought it was time to see what power looked like."
Daystrom puffed his chest out. Bruce refrained from rolling his eyes. "New York wasn't powerful enough for you?" he asked sourly.
Selina waved her hand negligently. "It has its charms, but so does Washington." She smiled at her escort. "Darling, be a dear and fetch me a lemonade, will you?"
"Of course, my sweet."
After Daystrom departed, Bruce immediately hissed, "what are you doing here? Isn't New York a better hunting ground for the Cat?"
Selina smiled. "Jewels are always my passion, but power is fascinating, too."
"Don't play cat-and-mouse with me."
She laughed. "Very good, Brucie." She stepped closer. "You're like catnip to me."
Daystrom returned with two lemonades. Selina thanked him effusively. Bruce excused himself.
She always pops up like a bad penny.
Well, there was nothing for it. Selina had her own agenda, and he had no time to find out about it. He just hoped she would stay away from Dick.
"Bruce?"
He turned and smiled. "Hello, Pamela."
"Hello." She was wearing a pale green dress with a straw boater that featured real flowers and a green silk ribbon.
"You look like spring," he said with a smile.
She smiled. Her red hair was done up, little strands arranged fashionably as a cameo brooch attracted the eye.
"Thank you. You're looking handsome in your opera clothes."
Bruce acknowledged the compliment with an inclination of his head. "I'm glad to see you tonight."
"Well, as head of the lab, it's a good idea to be here."
"So botanical research will cure diseases?"
"I believe so. Think of curing diphtheria, whooping cough, or even influenza."
"That would be incredible."
"Well, I can research with the best of them. Plants speak to me."
Bruce smiled. "I heard you like to talk back."
"Studies have shown that plants respond to chat, much like animals do, though not as demonstrably."
Bruce hoped Pamela kept that particular theory to herself. "Well, Gotham's Flower Society ladies were glad when you left town. You always won their contests!"
Pamela laughed. "They probably miss gossiping about the Crazy Plant Girl "
"Gossip is the lifeblood of High Society."
"Of any society." Pamela pushed her glasses up her nose. "Did you know another research staff has joined us? They're researching influenza."
"Different from botanicals, I assume."
"Yes. I met Dr. Victor Fries and his staff. His wife Nora is one of the scientists."
"That must be pleasant, to have another woman around here."
"It is. I'm just curious why my staff wasn't told about other researchers when we were hired."
"Oh, well, you're dealing with politicians. They love to change things around. Many cooks in the broth and all that."
"Hmm, yes, too many cooks."
"Miss Isley, may I speak with you?" asked a Society matron.
"Certainly, madam." If Pamela was irritated by the lack of the use of her doctor's title, she did not show it."
Bruce went up to his box. He wanted to stay out of Selina's sight.
He relaxed in his plush chair. The orchestra was warming up so he listened while he thought of his conversation with Pamela. He hoped that this project would work out. It was all odd, from A to Z.
i think the Raven and the Nightingale should do some more investigating.
& & & & & &
The next night found the Raven and the Nightingale approaching the temporary laboratory. They were surprised at the lack of security but took advantage of the lack of guards.
They were extremely careful to be stealthy. The scientist's living quarters were the upper floors of the house. At this hour everyone was asleep. The Raven and the Nightingale searched the labs quickly and efficiently. They came up empty.
In addition to the kitchen, the other room was a small library. It was cramped, a large piano taking up quite a bit of space.
"They probably moved this from one of the parlors when they revamped them," Bruce said quietly.
"Do you think we'll find anything in the common areas?" Dick asked.
"Probably not, but we can cross them off the list."
"Would Victor Fries leave something linking him to Lionel Luthor lying around?"
"You'd be surprised how dumb even smart people can be."
Dick grinned. He checked the bookcase while Bruce went through the desk. "It'll take too long to go through every book," he complained.
"Search what you can."
Dick continued his search but stopped. He decided on a hunch and opened the top of the piano.
"Ah ha!"
"Ah ha what?"
Dick took out a folded paper. Before he had a chance to look at it, there was a creak on the main staircase. Bruce closed the drawer he had been searching and Dick shut the piano lid. They exited through the French doors and hurried into the woods.
"Another late-night snacker?"
"Ha, ha."
They reached their carriage and Bruce took hold of the ruins. As the horse cantered steadily, Dick opened the paper he had found in the piano.
"So anything interesting, or did the piano movers leave a copy of their grocery list?"
Dick read quickly. "Well, now."
"C'mon, spill."
Dick looked at Bruce and removed his domino mask. "It's a list of countries."
"Countries?"
"Yep, as in England, France, Belgium, Austria, Hungary, Germany and Russia."
"Hmm."
Dick replaced the paper in his pocket. "Not exactly a big secret. Why hide such a list?"
"I don't know."
& & & & & &
Dick smiled at Lana, who smiled back. "More Lincoln books, Mr. Grayson?"
"Maybe."
"There's a push to build a memorial to Mr. Lincoln. Several bills have been introduced but shot down by Speaker Cannon."
"Figures."
Lana nodded knowingly. "So, how can I help you?"
Dick showed her the list of countries. "Can you figure out any links among these names?"
"Besides the obvious?"
"You mean that they're all European countries?"
"Technically, Russia is Eurasian, but yes." Lana studied the list. "Link is a good word to use. The first three, England, France and Belgium are all linked by pacts, as are the last two, except for Russia. Russia is linked with the first two."
"Ah, yes, pacts. Economic and military. If one country is attacked, the others declare war on their attackers. It can get pretty tangled."
"No doubt. Well, General Washington warned against such entanglements in his Farewell Address of 1796."
"Please keep the list. If you come up with anything, could you please give me a call?" Dick handed her the Willard Hotel number.
"Be glad to, Mr. Grayson."
"Thank you." Dick smiled charmingly and left the building.
He stood on the steps outside and decided to return to the hotel, but changed his mind. A quick trip to the Smithsonian could be fun.
As he walked toward the museum, he noticed the man trailing him. He kept on walking and went into the Smithsonian. The man followed.
The tail was tall and well-dressed, casually handling a gold-headed cane. Dick sauntered through the galleries and exited through a side door, losing his tail.
So who's putting a tail on me?
The man emerged from the Smithsonian ten minutes later. He walked to a telephone booth and Dick used his opera glasses to observe the dialed number.
i knew these would come in handy.
The man left the booth and Dick waited until he was gone from sight, then slipped into the booth and dialed the number the spy had called.
"Hello, Lionel Luthor here."
Dick immediately hung up. So, the plot thickened! He walked back to the Willard Hotel.
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