"Sheriff Brock is right. We should at least hear what these young people have to say."
Biska's calm voice cut through the tension in the frozen exhibition hall.
The cold air hummed softly around them. The towering block of ice, with the Hope Blue Diamond sealed inside, shimmered under the white lighting. The chillers continued their steady mechanical breath, keeping the temperature low enough to sting exposed skin.
Commissioner Jim Gordon remained unmoved.
"Protecting the diamond and arresting the thief is the police's responsibility," he said firmly. "Ordinary citizens have no right to interfere. And they are still minors. If something goes wrong…" He paused, his expression tightening. "I don't even want to imagine that outcome."
"What about Batman and his assistants?"
The deep female voice came from behind Biska. It was Kailina, the Smithsonian's security expert.
Her tone wasn't mocking. It was steady. Sharp.
"Do they have the right to interfere with police work? Isn't Robin underage? And yet the GCPD lights the bat-signal to seek Batman's help."
"Kailina," Biska interrupted gently, though the damage was already done.
Gordon's face paled.
Not from anger.
Not from embarrassment.
But from helplessness.
No one understood the truth better than Jim Gordon: Gotham needed Batman. Far more than the public realized. The existence of vigilantes was a contradiction to law enforcement. Yet without them, many monsters roaming the city would never be stopped.
It was a truth that tasted bitter.
"They are not Robin," Gordon said at last, his voice low but firm. "And the day I was most dissatisfied with Batman was the day Robin appeared. I will never forgive him for bringing a child into that world."
Dean kept his expression neutral.
If Gordon knew Robin was standing right beside him, he might faint on the spot.
Despite everything, Dean couldn't deny the admiration he felt. Gordon had fought corruption in Gotham for decades. He clung to his beliefs even when the world mocked them.
That kind of stubborn integrity was rare.
"I mean no disrespect, Commissioner," Biska said softly. "The Gotham police have our full trust. But the Notice that baffled your department was deciphered by these children. We aren't asking them to confront a criminal. Only to share their observations."
Barbara's eyes sparkled.
"You're absolutely right, Miss Kernell! Thank you for trusting us."
She immediately pulled Dean forward.
"This is Dean Thurston. He may look young, but he's one of Gotham's most recognized magicians. Many masters have praised his technique."
Dean gave an awkward smile. "Hello, Miss Kernell. Nice to meet you."
But the one who responded wasn't Biska.
It was Kailina.
"You're Thurston?" she said, studying him carefully. "I've heard of you."
Her gaze sharpened.
"Tell me, from a magician's perspective—what do you think of this exhibition hall?"
Dean blinked. The question came suddenly.
Biska explained, "Kailina is our security specialist. She returned from London recently. The exhibition hall was designed entirely by her."
"And the equipment was supplied by us," Director Orff added quickly.
Dean took a slow breath.
"So this entire structure… was your design?"
Kailina nodded slightly.
"Then I'll speak honestly," Dean said.
He stretched out his hand, flexing his long fingers slowly.
"Magicians hate cold environments."
Everyone looked at him.
"Sleight of hand depends on finger flexibility. In low temperatures, hands stiffen. Reaction speed slows. Micro-adjustments become clumsy. Even with gloves, dexterity suffers."
He clasped and unclasped his fingers again.
"For a magician who values precision, even slight stiffness creates discomfort. And discomfort leads to mistakes."
He glanced at the ice block.
"Freezing the diamond increases the cold's impact. And the sheer size of the ice means brute force is ineffective. Even with intense heat, melting would take too long."
Brock nodded unconsciously.
Dean continued.
"The space is small. Entry is limited. There are almost no blind spots. From a design perspective—it's brilliant."
Kailina smiled faintly.
"Correct," she said. "That was the intention."
She folded her arms.
"Additionally, the diamond contains a signal transmitter. If its position shifts or the signal disappears, the door locks instantly. The chillers switch from cold air to a controlled hypnotic gas. Everyone inside will lose consciousness."
Silence fell.
"When that happens," she continued, "each individual will be screened one by one."
Dean's eyes narrowed slightly.
The room was sealed. No ventilation shafts. No secondary exits. Independent power supply. No connection to the main grid.
It was airtight.
"Impressive," Dean admitted.
Even with Batman or Robin assisting, breaking through such layered security would be extremely difficult.
And yet…
Kaito Kid had still sent the calling card.
Dean felt something stirring beneath his calm surface.
Excitement.
Challenge.
---
The Final Preparations
The next day arrived.
April 1st.
The date announced in the Notice.
The Orpheus Jewelry Exhibition Hall was officially open to the public. Outside, reporters gathered. Police presence doubled. Plainclothes officers blended into the crowd. Surveillance vans lined the street.
Inside, the air remained freezing.
Barbara adjusted her scarf.
Dick scanned the room carefully.
Dean stood quietly, watching.
The ice block gleamed brighter under exhibition lighting. The Hope Blue Diamond shone like a captured star.
Kailina monitored equipment from a small console panel near the entrance. Gordon stood near the door, arms folded, jaw tight.
Brock paced.
Time moved slowly.
Every tick of the clock felt amplified.
Then—
12:00 PM.
The announced time.
Nothing happened.
No smoke.
No alarms.
No dramatic entrance.
The crowd murmured.
"Was it a bluff?"
Dick whispered.
Dean didn't answer.
His eyes were on the ceiling lights.
Light.
Tarot reference.
The Star.
The Fool.
Suddenly—
The lights flickered.
Not off.
Just slightly dimmer.
Then normal.
Gordon stiffened.
"What was that?"
Kailina checked the panel.
"Power stable."
Dean's gaze shifted to the ice.
Tiny droplets formed along the surface.
Condensation.
But the chillers were functioning.
So why—
Then he realized.
"It's not temperature," he muttered.
"What?" Barbara asked.
"It's humidity."
The door opened briefly to admit another small group.
Warm outside air mixed with the cold interior.
Micro-condensation accelerated.
Tiny fractures began forming between ice layers.
Dean's eyes widened.
"Everyone step back from the ice!"
Too late.
A sharp cracking sound echoed.
The inner core separated cleanly.
The diamond dropped—
And froze midair.
Gasps filled the hall.
Floating.
Suspended.
A thin, nearly invisible filament.
From the ceiling.
And descending along it—
Dressed in white—
Cape flowing—
A grin beneath a monocle—
Kaito Kid.
"Good afternoon, Gotham!"
Gordon drew his weapon instantly.
"Don't move!"
But Kid was already moving.
He landed lightly atop the ice block.
With a graceful bow, he plucked the diamond from the suspended line.
Kailina slammed the emergency switch.
The doors sealed.
Gas systems activated.
But Kid laughed.
"You planned for cold," he said smoothly. "But not for April Fool's."
He snapped his fingers.
The hypnotic gas vents malfunctioned—releasing harmless cold mist instead.
Kailina's eyes widened. "Impossible."
Dean understood.
He tampered with the independent power source beforehand.
Not today.
Earlier.
Before the exhibition even opened.
The gas system had been rewired.
Kid leaped backward—
But instead of smoke—
He produced mirrors.
Compact reflective panels scattered across the floor.
Light refracted wildly.
Blinding flashes disoriented the room.
And when vision cleared—
He was gone.
Only a calling card remained.
Pinned neatly atop the melting ice.
---
Aftermath
The hall fell silent except for dripping water.
Gordon lowered his weapon slowly.
Brock swore loudly.
Kailina stood frozen, disbelief etched across her face.
Dean stared at the calling card.
April 1st.
Not just a date.
A message.
The entire exhibition.
The elaborate security.
The sealed room.
All of it—
Had been part of the joke.
An April Fool's performance.
Barbara exhaled slowly.
"He outplayed us."
Dean's expression remained calm.
"For now."
He looked at the door.
Somewhere beyond Gotham's skyline, a white figure glided through the daylight sky.
The Hope Blue Diamond shimmered in his hand.
Dean's fingers flexed slowly.
Cold or not.
Next time—
He would be ready.
-------------------------------------------
🕷️ End of Chapter
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