The patrol hours had ended but instead of going back home, Barbara dropped by at the Bat cave, going straight to the Batcomputer. Something was not right and she could feel it. The Bat vigilantes had just dealt with Paris Franz and his gang, stopping the illegal shipping and putting them under arrest. But Barbara couldn't help but feel as if it was just a distraction.

There seemed no other reason for Franz to spring up unexpectedly and start operating in Gotham until or unless someone else was using him as a deviation from some other even dangerous plan. And though there was no proof to justify that, Barbara had an instinctive feeling that there was another devious plan brewing up behind the facade of the case they had just solved.

And if that was the case then maybe the vigilantes had gotten too late already, being occupied with Franz.

She pulled up the records of the GCPD using her own ID to access it and got into the files of the crimes reported within a month and found that many people had gone missing. Most of those cases were not even kidnappings because there had been no information about the abductors demanding hostage money.

She pulled back the cowl taking in a deep breath to compose herself and focus, there was still some clue that she was missing. She got startled when she felt a hand clasp her shoulder gently and turned to see Richard.

"What happened? I thought you would have gone home by now." He asked, eyes sweeping over all the screens she had pulled up at the computer.

"Yeah but something came up," she replied, pulling up the tab which showed the list of reports filed for missing people, "I think this whole Franz case was a set up."

"A set up?" 

"Yeah. It's weird how he had absolutely no reason to immediately start working in Gotham and that too on such a scale that would get our attention," Barbara explained, "I feel like it was a ruse to get us distracted while something else is going on behind the scenes."

Richard nodded, "I see... I hadn't thought about this earlier but now that you've pointed it out, it does seem suspicious for Franz to even be here in the first place."

"Exactly. And then the fact that it all got wrapped up too easily is still bothering me," she switched back to the tabs showing their progress with the case, "why would he let himself get caught if he really was intending to cause some major havoc? His hideout was trackable, he let slip in the footage he sent us intentionally and even after all that, he got caught because he didn't have a backup transporter? Sounds very fishy."

His blue eyes narrowed as he pondered on her words, realizing that she was right to suspect it, "and those missing people you were checking earlier?"

Barbara pulled up the list and zoomed in, "all these disappearances happened in this month. And there has been no word as to who is causing all of it but I think all these abductions are interconnected. People don't disappear without reason."

"In Gotham, they do. But then they turn up at the most inconvenient of times as a set up for us so..."

"It's the other way round this time," she elaborated, turning to face him, "we might have to check Arkham to see none of the prisoners have broken out. Because I don't know why but I get the feeling that all of this is going to be very bad. Like a major explosion that would hit us right in the face when we least expect it."

"That's alarming," he mumbled, "we'll have to talk to Bruce about this."

"Yeah. So far all I have gotten is the list of missing people, I think we should start by going into the details, investigate how they were taken. We should get the GCPD to do that, would save the time and the procedure."

He nodded, "got it. I'll talk to your Dad first thing tomorrow morning. Or maybe we could both go together since you're the one who has access to all the files and records stored there."

She shut off the computer at that, knowing that was probably the best they could do for now, "right. First thing tomorrow morning. Don't miss the alarm."

He chuckled lightly, "I don't miss it intentionally, it's just that the clock broke..."

She shook her head as if disappointed, "and you haven't replaced it yet?"

"I'll set the alarm on my phone, don't worry."

"You better do or I'll ask Kori to kick you out of bed instead," a small smile played upon her lips as she made that remark, noticing the flicker of red on his face.

"Ah that won't be needed," he replied, "I'll show up at eight, mark my words."

"If you don't, you'll pay."

"Noted," he touched his forehead lightly in a short salute as he backed off, probably intending to leave.

However, Richard knew that out of them all, Barbara was the one who used to overthink cases a lot and sometimes it could get her very worried. She took the whole responsibility of saving the city very seriously and that sort of devotion towards the people and her mission was inherent in her from her father. He could see that she was still thinking about the mysterious case that was brewing up behind Franz's set up and there was a high chance that she was going to sacrifice her rest and get deeper into the investigation by herself.

"And Babs, don't get so worried," he added right when he was about to leave too, smiling reassuringly at her, "we are not too late. We'll sort this out."

She nodded but the concerned expression on her face hadn't faltered, "I hope so. I just... I have a very bad feeling about this."

The last sentence however was spoken in a low tone so Richard didn't hear that as he stepped out of the cave. Barbara checked the computer system one last time making sure that it was properly shut down and then went off to the shower rooms to change out of her suit.

Patrol that night had been tiring and with the discovery she had made regarding their current case and the potential case that couldn't yet see now, she had gotten twice exhausted. And though she wanted badly to start investigating right from the next hour, after the hot water bath she felt herself craving some sleep.

She had just emerged from the shower rooms, hanging up her suit in its case and was about to leave when Jason popped in, still in his Robin suit, "hi Barb!"

He seemed very cheerful and the only assessment that could be made by his current mood was that he probably got to beat up some thugs.

"Hi Jay, but right now it's more of like a goodbye, I need to go to sleep."

"Oh," he shrugged, "fine by me. Besides, you're not going to Crown Point by any chance, are you?"

She knew he could never let go of an opportunity to tease her, "Jason... I'm tired. Besides it's nearly dawn, all I can hope is get a wink of sleep and that's all."

"Right. Though when you do go to Crown Point, tell your boyfriend I expect him to meet me and Elliot this week or else we'll crash at his place without warning."

Her cheeks colored slightly when he referred to Neal as her boyfriend but she managed to disguise it, "you know what, I'm not a messenger owl so either you tell him that yourself or crash at his place, whichever sounds convenient to you."

His stormy eyes glinted in amusement, "of course you're not the messenger owl. I think that title should go to me if I were to let slip a certain something."

She whacked her bag at him but he dodged and burst into laughter. "Jay, I'm warning you... If you dare do that, I'll tell Bruce all about what you do in your spare time. Don't stay under the impression that I don't know what you're up to."

He halted and looked at her closely, "excuse me?"

"You know very well what I'm talking about," she added knowing that she had landed on a point she could blackmail him with for a change, "and if Alfred found out you've been smoking then..."

"Woah hold up," he held his hands up interrupting her, "I do not..."

"Jay, you might hide it very well from them but you can't hide it from me," she remarked, green eyes gazing into steel blue, "I didn't interfere earlier because I think you would know better yourself by now."

A slight dash of red crossed his features almost as if he was actually embarrassed that she knew. "Barbara I... It's not a... I'm not addicted to smoking, it's just..."

Her eyes softened and she gently patted his shoulder, "look, I won't give you a lecture because I know you are old enough to understand yourself. It's not good for your health as well as the people around you. I don't know when you started, how long you've been doing this but I know you are not addicted yet or else all the time you spend with us training and otherwise would have been very difficult for you to pass without a joint. All I'm saying is that don't let it become an addiction, that would cause damage to you most."

He nodded and deep down he was grateful that she didn't straight up rebuke him for that. Barbara was always understanding towards him, unlike Bruce though the latter tried his best. 

"Okay bud, I'm leaving and I have really little time left for a nap," she smiled, "you should go change as well and rest."

"Sure thing. See you tomorrow."

"Yup," she waved slightly then left for the exit.

"But hey, that means you were at the bike race in West End this weekend! There's no other way you would have found out about me," Jason spoke up as if he had just realized that, "wait a second... You were the one who beat Hastings in the race, didn't you? Of course it was you!"

Her smile widened recalling that night but she decided that if she stayed any longer, she would miss the very little time she had for a short nap too, "go change Jaybird and please let me go to my place too. I am exhausted and have no strength left in me to face your never ending questions."

***