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Chapter 15: You Ultimately Fell Into the Trap
"What! The GCPD solved the entire notice?"
Bullock's confident words set off a storm in Tim's mind.
If it was the entire notice, that obviously included the line he couldn't figure out.
"Someone in the GCPD figured it out? Who? Gordon? Barbara? But I just spoke to her recently; she should be stuck on the same part as me..."
Tim wanted to ask how the GCPD interpreted it, but Bullock had stated he wouldn't leak the details. Pressing further would only make him look suspicious.
No matter how much he wanted to know, Tim had to remain silent.
It didn't matter. Once inside the manor, he had plenty of ways to get intel.
"Alright, inspection complete. No issues. Please enter."
The check ended quickly, and Bullock waved them through.
They drove to the manor's main entrance. Vanaver staff were waiting to guide them, introducing the layout and restricted areas.
Along the way, they saw numerous security guards—a mix of GCPD officers and Vanaver private security. They guarded every passage. While "a sentry every three steps" might be an exaggeration, there were basically no blind spots. Sneaking in past the cordon was impossible.
"Security is tight. Does Kid really have that much ability?" Jack marveled at the scene.
"If I were that thief, seeing so many guards would make my legs weak. I'd give up."
Tim agreed. Let alone a rookie, even a veteran like Catwoman would think twice about this setup. And this setup was brought about by Kid himself.
Honestly, even Tim wouldn't be able to steal the necklace easily in this situation. He believed it was the same for Kid.
Thus, his doubt grew.
Motive! What is the motive for issuing a notice, allowing people to prepare, and taking such a huge risk to steal something?
Tim wasn't the only one wondering.
In the massive garden on the west side of the Vanaver Manor, Gordon, wearing a trench coat, leaned against a railing. He held a pipe, staring blankly ahead for a long time.
His mind kept replaying the scene from that night—Kid, disguised as Montoya, handing him the Goddess's Tear.
"Why? Why return it?"
In all his years in Gotham, Gordon had seen countless criminals, many with incomprehensible motives. But Kid... despite only meeting him once, Gordon felt he was different from those vicious lunatics.
"What is he trying to do?"
Gordon frowned tight.
"Commissioner, the banquet is about to start. Aren't you going in?"
A dark-skinned policewoman walked over.
Gordon didn't answer but asked, "Montoya, do you really think Kid will appear from here?"
Yes, the officer was the real Renee Montoya.
"Honestly, I can't guarantee it. But we can't find anything else that fits 'Rainbow Bridge' better than this," Montoya said, shaking her head.
"'Shaking Heavenly Road,' Rainbow Bridge... there are no rainbow-colored bridges in Gotham. So the bridge is just imagery. The key info is the rainbow. But Kid appears at nightfall, so it won't be a real rainbow."
"The only possibility is the colorful hot air balloon parked on the lawn here."
Following Montoya's gaze, a giant, colorful balloon skin lay on the grass nearby.
"Also, a hot air balloon flying in the sky fits the description of a 'Shaking Heavenly Road.'"
"Basically, Kid will infiltrate the banquet from the garden tomorrow at sunset, then steal the necklace from Ms. Samantha."
Montoya concluded.
"Yeah. It sounds reasonable."
Gordon thought it over and found no obvious flaws. As Montoya said, it wasn't a perfect explanation, but there was no better interpretation.
"Time's up. I have to go to the banquet hall."
Gordon checked his watch. "Montoya, I leave the garden to you. If you spot Kid, arrest him."
Regardless of where Kid entered, the key location was Samantha herself. Gordon had to focus on the banquet.
"Don't worry, Sir. I want to settle the score with him for impersonating me," Montoya said with determination.
Gordon nodded and walked toward the hall.
Meanwhile, Tim arrived at the venue with his father.
He scanned everyone around him with a critical eye, as if any one of them could be Kid.
The atmosphere inside was different. There were few uniformed guards; most were waiters. But Tim noticed many police officers in plain clothes hidden in the crowd.
"Welcome to the Vanaver Memorial Banquet. Would you like a drink?"
While Tim was observing, a waiter approached Jack, holding a tray with one hand.
The tray was filled with glasses of various drinks. An ordinary person might wobble holding just one glass on a tray, but this waiter's hand was rock steady. Not a drop spilled from the dozen glasses.
It wasn't just him; all the waiters could do the same. The Vanaver family's training standards were evident.
"You came as expected, Tim."
The waiter glanced imperceptibly at Tim, laughing inwardly.
"Just as I thought. You've walked right into the trap of the notice..."
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