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Mystery: The Case of Batman's Assistant
Taisia Karaseva
Renaldo Cupra sat with his guest of the evening, Bruce Wayne, at a private table at the Malano Restaurant in Chicago. The waiter, Amarigo, was clearing the table.
"Mr. Cupra, I have a mystery; an event I cannot explain. It has been bugging me for over a year," Mr. Wayne spoke out.
"I would be delighted to hear about it, Mr. Wayne," Renaldo replied.
"First of all, you must understand that I am Batman, and"
"What! What do you mean?" Cupra cried out, nearly toppling off his seat.
"I meant that the character is modeled after me. I don't mean I am the guy in a black costume who regularly saves the city. Some of Batman's characteristics and events in life are my own. I also happen to be quite wealthy; wealthy enough to have servants and assistants and a few homes here and there. I also own a Batman museum, and my most loyal assistant, Rupert Burgess, and I travel to see Batman fans around the country with my Batman collection. Nothing worth much value; except to fans, I suppose."
"And this unexplained event you mentioned?" Renaldo asked with building interest.
"The whole trouble started like this. Burgess and I had planned a trip to Boston a year ago to show fans a few objects in my collection, but since we did not have much luggage room, I was forced to bring with us a diamond ring with the Batman logo carved into it. The only piece of value in the collection, so I was sure the fans would forgive the poor amount of other artifacts present. However, I became ill a day before and told Burgess to go ahead without me. A few hours after the exhibit, Burgess called me and, in a nervous voice, told me he thought he was being followed. He then said that he was going northwestward and was planning to see me soon. I knew at once what he meant. He was expecting me at my other home in Concord, which was a great idea, since next to no one knew of it. I knew I had to get down there right away. My Batman instinct, I suppose. I told my other servants to take care of the house while I was away for a few days. I did not specify why I was so urgent to leave. I left as soon as I could, which was a few hours after the call. When I arrived in Concord, I was worried to see that Burgess had not yet shown. I spent a week there, worried sick. I called the police a few dozen times, yet they knew nothing of Burgess being in trouble. I then thought of calling my Chicago home, and was stunned to learn that Burgess had arrived there not an hour after I left! I returned home, expecting him to ask forgiveness, yet he acted as if nothing had happened! I was outraged, yet I did not dare ask him about it. I am sure such a question would corrupt our friendship, and I can't ask now since he will know that for a year I have suspected him. His father was my assistant, and so is he, the best they come, yet he sent me on a wild goose chase! Why would he do a thing like that?"
"Were all of the Batman artifacts accounted for?" Cupra questioned.
"Yes, all safe and sound. I just don't understand it," Bruce answered, his expression defeated.
"Can you think of a possible motive which might have lead Burgess to such a deed?" Cupra asked.
"Well, maybe I haven't given him enough days off, yet he never asked. Maybe he wanted the house to himself, yet I can't imagine why."
"Any clues you might have left out? You know, even a tiny clue might give us the answer&"
Wayne shook his head sadly.
Cupra sat back in his chair and painted a puzzled expression on his face. There must be something Wayne left out, he thought. I sure don't think Wayne would lie, but where is the logic of a loyal assistant sending his master on a wild goose chase? Could Burgess really have a motive which would overpower his loyalty? Money, perhaps? Yet he did not steal the ring. Could he have placed a faked ring in its place? No, Bruce would have surely noticed. I have a feeling that Burgess is guilty, yet the facts just don't fit...
While Cupra's brain was debating, he studied the saddened and puzzled face of Mr. Wayne, expression dull from a year of doubting his most loyal assistant. Then his keen eyes shifted to Amarigo, standing in the corner of the furnished dinning room. A smile was spread across the waiter's face and his blue eyes danced with amusement.
"Amarigo! Spit it out! What have you to smile about?" Cupra growled.
"Mr. Cupra, if I may ask your guest a question?" Amarigo asked.
"Waiter? Ah, the check? Yes, yes, why delay-" Wayne began to dig in his pocket for his wallet.
"No, no sir. A question about the case," Amarigo clarified.
"Certainly," Wayne whispered doubtfully.
"A year might fog one's memory. Yet if you can, please recall. When your faithful assistant Rupert Burgess called you and told you he was being followed, did he specifically say northwestward? Or did he say northwest?"
"Why, he might have said northwest. But if I remember how to read a compass correctly, I would say those directions were the same."
"Ah, sir. That explains the whole case. Burgess is innocent! I am sure he is just as puzzled over your behavior as you are over his," Amarigo concluded triumphantly.
Why did Amarigo reason that Burgess is innocent?
Answer Below
Amarigo saw that Burgess's description of being a loyal servant didn't fit with mysterious revenge or retaliation. The whole story would be normal had not Wayne thought Burgess was going to Concord. Burgess arrived to Chicago only a few hours after Wayne left; such a distance, from Boston to Chicago, cannot be covered so quickly by boat, car, or train. Burgess must have traveled by plane. When Amarigo clarified that Burgess said "northwest," he knew that Burgess meant he was flying Northwest Airlines home to Chicago. That would account for Burgess arriving home the same day as the call, for not asking forgiveness, and for acting as though nothing was the matter. Burgess was nervous when he called and hung us quickly because his plane was about to depart. Since Wayne did not tell anyone that he went to Concord, Burgess had no way of knowing that Wayne was waiting for him in the Concord home. Wayne's year of suffering was caused by nothing more than an innocent confusion of the words "northwest direction" and "Northwest Airlines."
About the Author: Taisia Karaseva is journalist and editor at Pegas Planet http://www.pegasplanet.com , help@albaspectrum.com. She is author of travel, history, international life articles
Author Site
1/20/2008
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