Chapter 37

Everything was now back to normal. Mavis and Johnny's wedding was only two weeks away and Dracula was so busy planning the wedding that he forgets to take a rest or sleep sometimes but luckily Mavis was there to encourage her father on taking a break. As the day passed by, the hotel was now accepting human guests. The humans were amazed at the wonderful castle that they were staying in and the real-life monsters around them didn't bother them at all. Some of the monsters still had troubles on interacting with them inside the hotel but at the end they were all friendly to one another. Johnny also insisted Quasimodo to serve human food for the guess but the chef thinks that all human foods are poisonous to monsters. Johnny would just chuckled at Quasimodo's reaction and brought human foods for him to try. To his surprise, it wasn't that bad.


The Human Village was quite as ever with not much crime in progress, especially with the Joker behind bars. More monsters began to explore more around the human village and started to interact with the humans like ordinary people.


It was another busy night inside the hotel. Mavis, Wendy, Sophie, and Charlotte were having a night out in town celebrating for Mavis' bachelorette party. Alfred checked out from the hotel and moved into the Cartwrights' old residence as his new home.


"I still don't get it? Mavis and the girls are at the village enjoying the Bachelorette Party while you, the future groom, have no interest on having bachelor party before the wedding?" Hank asked.


"Yep, well not now. We can have the bachelor party tomorrow." Johnny explained.


"Oh, come on, Johnny!" Pedro cried out while hugging Johnny's feet begging him. Johnny lightly laughed at Pedro and slowly removing his feet away from Pedro's hands. "You're the only chance we have to get out of the hotel and have some fun. Besides, you'll also have fun once we throw you the best bachelor party ever! What do you say?"


"Look, guys. I appreciate throwing a bachelor party for me but I better help out Alfred moving his stuff at the Cartwright's house." Johnny explained.


"Then why won't we have our bachelor party at his new house?" Pedro asked.


"I don't know, guys. Alfred will probably get tired after fixing up the house." Johnny said.


"Johnny, please! We just wanna go out and have some fun!" Hank said begging for Johnny.


"Well, you guys could have fun here inside the hotel. There are parties at the ballroom and I'm sure they'll let you in. Probably." Johnny said trying to cheer up Hank and Pedro.


"Why don't you just have your bachelor after you helped out with Alfred? It's only fair that Mavis and the girls are having but why not you guys." Dracula suggested.


"Well, I guess you're right, Drac. I'll think about it when I get back." Johnny said.


"Okay." Both Hank and Pedro sighed in sadness at the same time.


Johnny left the lobby and used one of the hearse to drive his way to Alfred's new home. After Johnny helped out Alfred on fixing up his new house, he decided to go out to the human village for some night patrol or keeping an eye on Mavis and the girls making sure they're safe.


Later at the Human Village....
Batman/Johnny was kneeling down on top of an old gargoyle, silently watching over the peaceful town while his cape was flowing through the wind.


"You know, it's not too late to celebrate your bachelor party, Johnathan. Besides, it's only the few occasions that you could relax yourself and be happy, especially you and Mavis are getting married." Alfred suggested through Batman/Johnny's earbud.


"I know you're just trying to cheer me up and appreciate it, Al. Truly." Batman/Johnny sighed with his voice modulator/changer turned off. "To be honest, I really wanted to enjoy the night with the other guys as well but I still have work to do. BATMAN has work to do."


"Is this because you can keep an eye on Mavis and the others in case they ran into some sort of trouble?" Alfred asked.


"Al, I'm not gonna spy on Mavis at her bachelorette party the whole night. I want her to enjoy herself with her friends. The ladies could really use some bonding without the guys, you know." Batman/Johnny explained.


"I guess you're right. But here I thought that you've  become a little more protective at Mavis just like her father. Probably you and Dracula have something in  common after all." Alfred said causing Batman/Johnny to chuckle.


"You know what, maybe I could just check on her once in awhile to see how's she doing." Batman/Johnny said having second thoughts about his decision.


"Well, If that's what you insist, Johnathan. I think it's good idea." Alfred said.


"Anything to report, Al?" Batman/Johnny asked.


"Not yet, actually. Nothing's coming out of the police radio... no wait... hold on, this is just new. It appears there's a crime scene just near you. Sending you the location now." Alfred said.


"Crime scene? I'm on my way there now." Batman/Johnny said in a hurry ending the conversation with Alfred.


Minutes later...
Batman/Johnny arrived at a dark alley way where the crime was committed. There were police lines around the area and dead body covered in a cloth.


"The police suggests that the victim died from a single gunshot to the chest. I should identify the victim." Batman/Johnny said.


Batman/Johnny wore his high-tech goggles and turned on his Detective Mode. He scanned the victim's fingerprints to identify him.


"The victim's name is Jay Wilde. A wealthy businessman and married. He was the owner of the monarch playing card company right next to the chemical plant. But what's he doing here in places like this? It doesn't add up." Batman/Johnny asked curiously while looking around the dark alleyway.


Batman/Johnny decided to reconstruct the crime scene by scanning the victim's body. Using his high-tech goggles, Batman/Johnny could see nondescript holograms of both the victim and the suspect to tell the whole story or the events. The victim was carrying a briefcase and the suspect was holding an envelope. After they exchanged items, the suspect shot the victim on the chest and ran away.


"The victim wasn't alone before he died. He was meeting up with someone, probably the suspect. The victim was carrying a briefcase full of cash while the suspect was holding an envelope. They were having a deal." Batman/Johnny said in his mind.


Batman/Johnny also scanned the envelope that was near the victim's body. The envelope was containing photos of Jay Wilde with a woman in a restaurant.


"Hmph.... interesting. The suspect has photos of Wilde having an affair with another woman. Wilde was being blackmailed. They two of them decided to meet up here. The suspect said that he'll give the photos to Wilde in exchange for cash money. When the two of them worked on their deal, the suspect killed Wilde anyway and escaped. The suspect failed to realize that the bullet casing fell through the grate on the nearby wall. I should scan it for finger prints." Batman/Johnny said.


Batman/Johnny walked towards the grate on the wall and began to pull it. With enough strength, Batman/Johnny managed to remove the grate and can easily see the bullet casing on the floor. Batman/Johnny scanned the bullet casing to identify the fingerprints of the suspect.


"This fingerprints belonged to Robert Hanes. He was a former security guard at the playing card company. He was fired the night when the Red Hood gang broke in. According to police records, Hanes decided to join up with the Penguin's crew and do his dirty works. Hanes was an employee out for revenge." Batman/Johnny said as he removed his high-tech goggles and puts it back in his utility belt.


"Alfred, I need the current location of Robert Hanes. I'm also sending you the evidence I've collected in case if it helps." Batman/Johnny said through his earbud.


"No need, Johnny. I've already found it. Sending you the location now." Alfred said ending the conversation.


Batman/Johnny grabbed his grappling gun from his leg hostler and grappled up on the rooftops making his way Robert Hanes' current location.


Meanwhile on the rooftops were five of Penguin's men. One of them was Robert Hanes.


"This is bad. The boss is in jail and now the bat is out there hunting us. What now?" One of the thugs asked.


"I'd say we lay low first until Penguin gets out of jail. If we see any of Joker's crew roaming around, waste them." The second thug suggested.


"How about we go hangout in a nightclub and have some fun. My treat!" The third thug, Robert Hanes, suggested.


"Seriously!?" The forth thug exclaimed.


"Yeah! Let's head out now! I still got I few cash inside my pocket. What do you say?" Hanes said.


"As long as we're away from the Bat. The only thing that creeps me out are the monsters showing up." The forth thug stated.


"I know what you mean, man. I'm still not used on seeing monsters walking around the streets. I've been thinking on putting a bullet between their eyes." The fifth thug smirked.


To their surprise, Batman/Johnny drop attacked at one of the Penguin thugs. They were all shock to see the vigilante unexpectedly.


"Oh god! It's the freakin' bat!" Hanes shouted in horror. He thought that Batman/Johnny's here to punish him for his crimes.


Batman/Johnny strikes at one of the thugs three times and countered the attack from another thug. Batman/Johnny caped stunned an enemy and started to beat him down fast multiple times on the chest, stomach, shoulder, and the face while Batman made his finishing move as an uppercut punch below the thug's jaw.


Batman/Johnny performed a Combo Takedown at one of the thugs by breaking his arm knocking him out. After the two thugs are unconscious, Batman/Johnny punched the last three thugs forming his free flow combat.


With the thugs still on the ground, Batman/Johnny performed his Multi Ground Takedown by jumping high up and unleash two powerful Batarangs that immediately incapacitate the two thugs only leaving Hanes conscious.


"Alright I give up! I surrender!" Hanes pleaded while slowly getting back up on his feet.


Batman/Johnny strangles Hanes on the neck only using his one arm and lifting the suspect up beyond the floor.


"What do you want!?" Hanes weakly said while struggling from Batman/Johnny's strong grip.


"Justice. You've killed Jay Wilde tonight, Robert." Batman/Johnny intimidatingly said with his voice modulator/changer.


"(*scoffs) Good! That guy deserves to die!... right after what he did to me... took my job away right after a simple break-in from those Red Hood freaks!... I had no choice but to kill him!" Hanes admitted.


"You always have a choice!" Batman/Johnny said.


"You can't make me go back to jail! That's where freaks like the Joker is!" Hanes protested.


"Don't worry. You'll be seeing him soon. Tell him I said hello." Batman/Johnny said as he punched Hanes on the face knocking him out and dropped his unconscious body on the ground.


"Alfred, inform the police that Robert Hanes and several of Penguin's men have been apprehended at my location. Send them the evidence that I've collected as well." Batman/Johnny said on his earbud.


"Already done, Johnathan." Alfred said.


Batman/Johnny left the area before the police arrived and wanted to go to Mavis and the girls to see if they're doing okay.


To be continued.....

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