Enemies & Allies by Kevin J. Anderson Page B

directors were growing; the time for quiet observation had passed. Bruce decided to take a more active role in uncovering the blight at the core of his father’s company….
    Shirley, his executive secretary, guarded the gates with utmost professional courtesy and tact. “Will you be staying late tonight, Mr. Wayne? Shall I order you dinner?” Both beautiful and efficient, she endured his whims, produced memos whenever he felt like issuing them, maintained his stack of telephone messages, and most important, maintained his privacy.
    “I’ll be fine on my own, thank you. Close up, put out the lights, and go home. Have a good weekend.”
    As a gracious gesture, Bruce had decreed that anyone who took public transportation was allowed to leave a half hour early on Fridays. His employees had readily embraced the habit, and Wayne Tower emptied out as dusk set in. Ostensibly, he was staying behind to work on the donations from the polio benefit, which had raised $47,862. He had upped the amount to an even $50,000, then matched it from his own fortune.
    Tonight, though, he had other things to do.
    He waited as darkness fell and the lights winked out in the other offices. Since he couldn’t begin to prowl until the building was silent and empty, he sat pondering in the dark, running through his plan….
    Bruce was very troubled by what Alfred had learned from Richard Drayling during their conversation that afternoon. The butler’s gaunt face had shown clear distaste for the news he had to relate. “Mr. Drayling resigned because he is concerned for his family, sir. He fears for his life and theirs.”
    Bruce hadn’t expected that. “In what way?”
    “At first it was an offered bribe, a substantial amount of money. Naturally, Mr. Drayling declined. Next came blackmail, which he also brushed aside. Finally, they made overt threats.”
    Bruce felt a storm growing inside him. “Alfred, what are you talking about? Who are ‘they’?”
    The butler sniffed. “Lex Luthor, sir. He has been systematically corrupting your board of directors, getting them in his pocket. Mr. Drayling is certain that most of the others have already succumbed.”
    Bruce felt cold. “And what does Luthor want from them?”
    “Mr. Luthor has bribed, or otherwise coerced, the directors to pass along crucial Wayne Enterprises research. Several of LuthorCorp’s major technological breakthroughs originated in your own divisions.”
    Bruce’s hands clenched into fists. “Five times in the past six months, LuthorCorp edged out our bids on large government contracts. Now I know why.”
    Maybe he had bided his time too long, played his part too well as a carefree heir only marginally interested in business matters. He was disappointed that Drayling had not felt comfortable enough to talk to the son of Thomas Wayne, but perhaps the older man had seen Bruce as part of the problem, no different from the corrupt board members.
    He knew full well that Gotham City ran as much on graft and blackmail as it did on electricity and heating oil. During the years of Bruce’s absence, the Wayne Enterprises directors had gotten more complacent and less adept at covering their indiscretions.
    Alfred continued, “Mr. Drayling resisted LuthorCorp’s advances out of respect for your father. When his refusal led to direct threats against his family, however, he could not tolerate the situation. Therefore, his only alternative was to resign. I explained that he should consider giving you the benefit of the doubt…but actions speak louder than words, if you will forgive the cliché.”
    With a heavy heart, Bruce understood the man’s decision. “Starting tomorrow, I’m hiring private security to watch over Drayling’s entire family. The time has come to show the board members that I’m not completely harmless or incompetent. Once I do some housecleaning, maybe I can convince Drayling to come back.”
    But first he had to gather his ammunition and investigate exactly