"Do you know that I'm being physically experimented on and mentally tortured by every single person of authority and therapists in this place? The warden's been doing this ever since you locked me up in here." Grodd would say to her telepathically through the glass that kept him contained and separated. The large ape was bound against the wall and hanging upside down. He seemed pretty docile and was drooling but it was a ruse so that he'd be left along from the guards who would beat him. "Why don't you do something about it before I end up nothing but a docile ape." Clearly the ape was desperate as he had been subjected to quite the round of experiments. "I can show you proof. You'll just have to come again but without the guards watching you or I."
I keep my expression steady as I stand in front of the glass, letting none of the alarm or skepticism show on my face. Inside my mind, I tighten my focus, reinforcing the mental barriers I’ve trained for exactly this kind of contact. I don’t accept what I’m being told at face value. Not from him.
“If what you’re saying is true, then there’ll be records. Logs. Medical documentation. Chain-of-custody reports for every procedure you’re describing.”
I think back carefully, keeping my tone controlled and deliberately non-reactive I shift my stance slightly, eyes flicking over the restraints, the guards’ positions, the cameras in the room. Everything is being recorded here. Everything always is. That’s the first thing I rely on.
“I’m not coming in here alone and I’m not removing oversight because you ask me to. If there’s abuse happening, it gets exposed through independent review. Not private conversations behind closed doors.”
I continue firmly, letting the boundary settle between us like a locked door. I pause just long enough to let that land. Then I add quieter, sharper.
“And if this is an attempt to isolate me or manipulate the situation, it won’t work.”
I don’t break eye contact. I don’t step closer. I simply watch, listen, and start mentally compiling the next set of checks I’m going to run on the facility’s records—because either there’s evidence that needs uncovering, or I’m being led into a trap designed to look like one.
Grodd couldn't help but chuckle at that last remark. He'd certainly try. The ape certainly was doing a lot better than he usually was. Lawrence was the first He'd threatened to eat since his incarceration. He had a valid reason too. As he'd make his way towards the courtyard, the ape would glance at Batgirl as she'd go and do her own thing.
@batgirlspain
I watch him head toward the courtyard for a second before turning away. Honestly, seeing him laugh is weird. Not something I expected when I walked into this place. I head down the hall, pulling out my phone.
First stop: Lawrence. I want to know where he came from, who approved him, and why half the staff seems to know almost nothing about him. Second stop: the warden. Because I’m done getting pieces of the story. I want the whole thing.
As I walk, I send a few messages to people I trust outside the facility, including a copy of the brain scan. If something happens to the records here, I don’t want the evidence disappearing with them. Then I pick up the pace. Because if Grodd’s right, and Lawrence knows I’m onto him, the clock just started ticking.
@nocturnalmuses
Of course, Lawrence would already be long gone for the day since he was only really interested in Grodd. Her best bet was to see the warden who was preoccupied with paperwork in his office.
@batgirlspain
I change direction and head straight for the warden’s office. No point chasing Lawrence if he’s already gone. The warden’s the one person who keeps showing up in all of this anyway. I stop outside the door and give it a firm knock before stepping inside.
“Morning.”
I close the door behind me.
“I’ve got some questions.”
I don’t bother sitting down. Instead, I set the folder on the desk.
“About Lawrence Whittaker.”
I watch his reaction carefully before adding.
“And before we do this the hard way, I’d really like to know why a therapist with access to one of your inmates barely exists in the facility records.”
@nocturnalmuses
The knock on the door caused the warden to look up from his stack of paperwork. Batgirl? His gaze met her as she'd come over and began to speak. "Good morning Batgirl." He'd say before he would then begin to listen. "Lawrence Whittaker." He'd begin to say. "Oh! You mean the ape specialist? Yes, we brought him in a while back. We figured it could potentially help Grodd reform." Then he would find himself confused. "Barely exists on the record?" He'd ask her curiously as he'd then begin to stand. "Let me see..." he would make his way towards a filing cabinet and began to search through it. Grabbing it, he'd then pull it out. "His record is right here." He'd say as he would then begin to return to handing it to her. "Here you are. Take a look for yourself." He offers. But inside the file it was empty minus a simple sticky note that read. "Documents taken to be digitized."
I open the file. Then I just stare at it for a second. One sticky note. That’s it. Slowly, I look back up at the warden.
“You’re kidding. This is all that’s left?”
I hold the folder open so he can see it and tap the sticky note with a finger.
“Who took the documents?”
That’s the first thing I want answered. The second is even more important.
“When were they taken?”
I close the folder and set it on the desk.
“Because I just spent most of yesterday digging through records.”
My eyes narrow slightly.
“And somehow nobody could tell me much about the guy who supposedly works here several times a week.”
I keep my voice calm, but at this point my patience is wearing thin.
“Walk me through exactly how Lawrence ended up here.”
