CHAPTER 54

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[David Lance POV]

The very next morning, I woke early before the sun came out, ready to start with my mission, hastily grabbing my things before checking out of the hotel, following what little I had about my target.

I knew very well this mission was going to be tough. 

Especially since I had no real clues besides a single location and a psychological profile Batman had left about Grey Shadow.

Nevertheless, I would not falter. While not much, I had just about enough to start my quest on a good note because I had Grey Shadow's last target or crime scene for that matter; from there, it was all a matter of methodically moving throughout the city checking every possible lead.

It would be a tedious job, sure, one with no guarantee of fast success, of course. But until I had more information about my target, this would do.

Meaning my first stop was at the Louvre Museum, Grey Shadow's last known location before disappearing off the grid; in there, I would examine every nook and cranny, looking for any possible clues that could perchance lead me to my target.

It was a long shot as Grey Shadow had struck the place three months ago, and the chances of any clues still remaining were slim to none, but I had to start somewhere, and the museum was a good start.

So, seeing I had my first place to look, and it was close, I grabbed a cab, giving the driver a note that said, take me to the Louvre Museum.

I had no time to waste.

I mean, I had, but I was honestly having fun in this treasure hunt Batman had sent me.

It was therapeutic.

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After a somewhat short taxi ride, I arrived at the museum, where I paid my fee before entering, and once inside, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the grandiose architecture and artworks that filled the place from corner to corner; it was truly a sight to behold. And yet, as beautiful as it was, I had to remind myself for a moment that I wasn't here for a leisurely stroll.

No, I was here on a mission, and time was of the essence.

Moving quickly but carefully so as to not raise any suspicion, I began my search for any clues that could help me find Grey Shadow.

It was a daunting task, to say the least, one made all the more difficult by the sheer size of the museum and the fact I had to keep a low profile. Nevertheless, I was determined.

So, for the following hours, I combed the place from top to bottom, in the areas I was allowed as a tourist, but alas, my efforts proved to be in vain; as sadly, there wasn't a single lead to be found in the common areas.

Meaning that if I wanted to find something, I would have to come when no one was around. If I was lucky, I would find more taking that approach.

I can't help but wonder if that was Batman's intention all along, having me break into the museum for clues.

I mean, it wouldn't be the first time he's had me do something like that.

But before I could dwell on that thought for too long, I heard a voice coming from the other side of the room. It was from the security guard telling me visiting hours were over and that I needed to leave.

Realizing I had stayed for far longer than I had originally intended, I quickly wrapped up my search before making my way toward the exit. Once outside, I hailed a cab and made my way back to my hotel, planning to return in a few hours during the night to see if my hunch was right.

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A few hours later, after having some dinner, I made my way back to the museum, a few minutes before midnight, using my laptop to hack into the cameras, putting the ones outside and the ones at my entry point in a closed loop.

Then, I silently climbed the side of the building, reaching the second floor, before entering the place through one of the windows.

Once inside, I opened my laptop once again, locating the current positions of the security guards with the cameras of the museum, before beginning my search anew, this time in the restricted areas of the museum where members of the public were not normally allowed.

Objective clear, I began to move, noticing the building was eerily quiet as I prowled through its corridors, keeping an ear out for any signs of movement as I made my way to a restricted area, opening the door by lock picking it open.

I wasn't sure what exactly I was looking for, so I carefully inspected the room once I was inside, looking for any clues or things that didn't seem to fit the place quite right while keeping an eye for the security guards on the cameras.

Unfortunately, but not unexpectedly, my very thorough search of the first restricted area proved to be fruitless rather soon, as I couldn't find anything that could help me in my mission. Slightly frustrated but not deterred by this.

I decided to move on to the next room, and then the next, and so on, until I was certain the museum had nothing to offer me on this task of mine.

I was well aware that this was going to be a painstaking and time-consuming process, but be that as it may, I was quite methodical in my approach, believing in leaving no stone unturned when it came to these sorts of things.

So, little by little, I eventually made my way through all of the restricted areas in the museum, checking each room very carefully before moving on to the next, finding something quite curious in the last room, a file with some information that, for some might feel worthless, but for me was not.

In fact, it was the lead I had been looking for all long.

Now, it was only a matter of following the tracks the burglar was leaving, one by one. But that was a job for another night. For now, I had what I came for. Time to go back to the hotel.