《I am the Night》Chapter 7: The accident
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The camera moved in slowly and the director called out, "Give me a close up on her face, Julie I want you to bring more emotion this time and... Action!"
Julie Madison looked into the camera, a tear rolled down her cheek the director smiled and then said softly, "That's perfect Julie, now, look up to your left... Yes, yes! You see him there... Now, he's about to fall you want to shout at him to stop but your breath is caught... Excellent! and... Cut!"
The director jumped up and walked into the scene, "Larry did we get it?"
The camera operator and the associate director both gave a thumbs up. Julie rolled her head around as they set up for the next shot. The director walked up to her and softly spoke while holding a rolled-up copy of the script, "In this scene you've just seen Brad fall to his death, instead of screaming or crying I want you in shock, I want you to stare... Tears are good, shaking good, I want you to be in disbelief."
The director raced back to his seat beside the camera as the clacker snapped the scene and the take number and said, "Ok, I want you in tight on her and... Action!"
Julie was shaking and staring with a wide-eyed expression her mouth opening and closing as she made small gasping noises. A loud noise like metal snapping, a snap of electrical noise sounded like one of the lights went out just as the sickening sound of metal slamming into meat was heard. A shocking sound of disbelief came from every member of the crew. The spot Julie had been standing in was now occupied by one of the heavy lights from the scaffolding of the sound stage.
"JULIE!" The director yelled the crew raced onto the set.
They carefully moved the light off of her as one of the men cried out, "Someone call 911!"
Another person turned and vomited as the director yelled out, "Safety officer!"
Wayne got up and started his daily routine with a little pep in his step. He had the TV on as background noise as he went through the paces of his hellish workout. Alfred walked into the room with a somber look that had been on his face since the night he had killed the joker only this time there was something else on his face that caused Wayne to stop what he was doing to give Alfred his full attention.
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"Master Bruce, I'm afraid that there has been an accident..." Alfred looked at the TV just as the breaking news scrawl flashed up on the screen and the Channel 9 news theme came up.
Wayne was staring at Alfred who pointed at the TV. Summer Gleeson looked to be hastily sitting at the news desk before composing herself, "This just in, former soap opera star Julie Madison was reportedly injured today during the filming of the movie, 'The man of clay' a remake of the 1940 horror movie starring Basil Karlo. Channel 9 action news reporter Alex Knox is standing by at Gotham General where Julie Madison was just flown in by Air Ambulance, Alex? What can you tell us?"
Alex Knox adjusted his tie and then looked into the camera and appeared to be counting down from three before speaking, "Thank you, Summer, a spokesman for the production just gave a statement that..."
Wayne turned off the TV as he raced past Alfred shouting, "Alfred, get the car we're going to Gotham General!"
Wayne was dialing the number for Wayne Entertainment as he quickly changed into a suit, "This is Bruce Wayne, I need the full report on Julie Madison's accident ASAP. Include any video from surveillance cameras, filming, and cell phone footage. Make sure you get statements from everyone at the set today even those not present during the scene."
As soon as he was off the phone he dialed Jim Gordon's number, "Jim. This is Bruce Wayne, I need a favor. Can you personally look into the Julie Madison incident from today? It involves a woman I have an interest in so the possibility exists that it is related to Gotham Renewal."
Wayne raced into the elevator and pressed the button for the garage level. The trip down to the garage seemed to take forever. Thankfully when the doors opened, Alfred was waiting with the car door open and the engine running. Wayne jumped in and closed the door only saying, "Go."
They had just rounded the corner when Wayne's phone rang again. Wayne stared straight ahead not saying anything and finally replied in a weak croak, "Yes, I see. Thank you." He looked down and then spoke softly, "Alfred, take me to Wayne Studios, sound stage 3."
Alfred looked confused, "Not Gotham General?"
"She was pronounced D.O.A." Wayne looked out the window his face an expressionless mask.
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"I'm... I'm so sorry Master Bruce." Alfred pulled off to the side of the road and turned back to face Wayne, "Are you sure you want to go there now?"
Wayne nodded, "I can't do anything for her at the hospital, but I can go to the set and find out what happened. Prove to myself that it was just an accident so I can grieve for her like a normal man."
Alfred nodded and then asked, "Do you need to change first, Master Bruce?"
Wayne looked at Alfred and then croaked out, "I think, for now, Bruce Wayne needs to look into this, the Batman after I find out this was something other than an accident."
Alfred turned back to face forward and then pulled the car back out into traffic. They didn't speak for the next hour until the car pulled up to the guard post at the studio lot. The guard walked up to the car and said, "I'm sorry folks, no one is allowed on the lot now. The police have stage 3 closed off and..."
Alfred jerked a thumb at Wayne and said simply, "This is Mr. Wayne."
The guard stiffened up and said, "Yes, I'm sorry it's the last building on the east side of the lot. Parking will be tough as they have most of it blocked off."
Alfred pulled the car up near the building and stopped as Wayne hopped out and walked up to a couple of police officers, "Hey, I'm sorry, but this area is closed. This is an active crime scene."
Wayne nodded, "I'm Bruce Wayne here to see Commissioner Gordon."
The officer looked at his partner who said, "Better call it in."
The other officer walked off a short distance and then spoke into his radio. A few moments later he walked back and said, "Right this way, Mr. Wayne." The officer led him into the building and then found a group of plainclothes detectives standing around Jim Gordon who gave Bruce a head nod as one of the detectives started to read off of a notepad.
"So, looking at the light it has been pretty obviously tampered with, there was a clean cut to the wiring but no witness managed to look up during the incident. Our perp would have been practically invisible due to the lighting and the focus on filming. All members of the staff had solid alibis verified by other members of the staff. Two of the actors were in their trailers alone at the time, the trailers are outside of the sound stage."
Wayne's eyes started to search the set. He saw the spot where Julie was murdered and then looked up to see the walkway the light was attached to. He followed the walkway with his eyes to the side of the building where the stair case led to one of the stage doors. The stage door was open and he could see a trailer through the open stage door. Wayne didn't move yet and waited to speak with Jim Gordon first. As he waited his phone buzzed and he found the report made by the Wayne Entertainment people in his email inbox.
Wayne looked up and saw Jim busily talking with the detectives so he started to read the report and watched the videos. Wayne was snapped out of it as Jim placed a hand on his shoulder, "Mr. Wayne, can we speak in private?"
Wayne nodded and moved into a nearby office with Jim Gordon. Once the door was closed Jim spoke first, "I'm so sorry for your loss. As you feared, It's a homicide. We have found no evidence for any kind of connection to organized crime. This kind of killing seems far too amateur to have been done by any kind of professional. The crude methods seem more like a crime of passion. Do you know... Was there anyone that Julie may have come in contact with that would have had a motive? An ex-lover, someone she worked with?"
Wayne ran a hand through his hair and then choked out a half-whisper, "We only just met, Jim. At the charity event. We had our first date set for this evening."
Jim placed a hand on his shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze, "I know you'll be doing your own investigation as that guy, but I am begging you. Please. No blood baths this time. Please."
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