[He recognizes the name in a vague, peripheral way. The man had been wanted for some petty, small-time crimes, had suffered a drug overdose over eight years ago. He had been friends with--
His jaw tightens briefly. Friends with her father.
There had never been enough to suggest a homicide, though the overdose was unexpected and the man had no history of prescription drug abuse. The way she says his name suggests nothing else. Though murder was rarely a high priority for the Cluemaster, he still racked up a body count over the years, and Bruce has never doubted him capable of it.
How many reasons would there be for father choose to kill a close acquaintance? Especially a father who's as otherwise unconcerned about his daughter's welfare as Arthur always was?
Bruce looks at her, actually just looks. He's done that so rarely, despite the years he's known her. Hard to miss the shaking hands, the way she clenches them to stop it. His tone when he speaks is as gentle as he can make it.]
Do you think it will help?
[He doesn't push her about the subject matter. She'll talk about it if she wants to.]
no subject
His jaw tightens briefly. Friends with her father.
There had never been enough to suggest a homicide, though the overdose was unexpected and the man had no history of prescription drug abuse. The way she says his name suggests nothing else. Though murder was rarely a high priority for the Cluemaster, he still racked up a body count over the years, and Bruce has never doubted him capable of it.
How many reasons would there be for father choose to kill a close acquaintance? Especially a father who's as otherwise unconcerned about his daughter's welfare as Arthur always was?
Bruce looks at her, actually just looks. He's done that so rarely, despite the years he's known her. Hard to miss the shaking hands, the way she clenches them to stop it. His tone when he speaks is as gentle as he can make it.]
Do you think it will help?
[He doesn't push her about the subject matter. She'll talk about it if she wants to.]