It was June 21st 2011, 10:32 am, and it was a warm summer's day. The birds were out singing and the people of Gotham were in a hurry to get to work and start a miserable Tuesday of work. Janice Prince was working the till at Gotham's First National Bank. She buzzed for the next person to approach the bench as Bruce Wayne walked up and leaned on the narrow bench for placing paper work.
"Well Hello..." he looked for her name tag "Janice, it's a please to see you here today." Bruce said with a loving smile on his face.
"Mr Wayne..." She said with a surprised tone. "I wouldn't expect to see someone like you here at the bank. How can I help you today?"
But before he could answer her, he was interrupted as The Riddler and a few henchmen stormed the bank. Janice screamed and ducked behind the counter and many people were already on the floor without the Riddler having to give any orders. When a bank was robbed in Gotham City, nearly all the residents knew to follow orders and wait until the proper authorities arrived and deal with the situation.
"Very kind ladies and..." The Riddler looked around and noted that there was only one other man in the bank "Gentleman, I the Riddler have come to make a withdrawal, all your funds to be precise. So, without further ado, I need a bank manager to take my men down to the vault..." He looked over to the managers' desk and pulled her up from the ground. "Now, Brenda is it, would you kindly open the vault so my men down have to waste their valuable time welding it open?"
She wriggled out of the Riddler's vice like grip and walked Riddler's men down to the vault. Riddler stayed up top with the hostages. Now would dare move while he was in the building, he was a Rouges Gallery member after all.
Across the room on the floor, Bruce Wayne was edging his way around the room, to behind the Riddler so that he could take him down. The Riddler on the other hand noticed that Bruce Wayne was no longer in the same place he had been a few moments ago and turned around.
"Ah Ha, caught you Mister Wayne." The Riddler said in triumph and pushed his cane down onto Bruce's right hand. "Don't think that you can take this genius down that easily as that." He kicked Bruce way and went over to the window where Janice was hiding. He leaned over and pulled her through the gap.
"If anyone makes any more sudden movements, she will understand one of the world's greatest enigmas. 'What happens after we die?' So, Mr Wayne let that be a warning to you." After that little speech Riddler's henchmen came back up from the vault with bags of cash.
"Mr Riddler Sir, we got what we came for." One of the smarted henchmen announced.
"Well, without further delay," the Riddler tilted his hat and made for the exit "I shall not keep this going any longer. Thank you for your generous donation I shall put it to good use." He walked out twiddling his cane and whistling a tune. He was happy that Batman hadn't shown up and ruined his plan. Better yet, he didn't even leave a riddle.
The Riddler made his way back to his dirty apartment in Old Gotham. His for-hire-henchmen had already divided the loot and had separated. Sure he could have used the money to buy a better apartment, but he had only broken out of Arkham two weeks ago and this was only temporary accommodation until he heat was off.
He sighed as he took of his green bowler hat and his purple lens glasses. His apartment was growing and the cockroaches ruled the place. The plates in the sink were covered in mould and he didn't intend on doing anything about. He was going to torch the place and fake his death.
Oh Edward, how did it ever come to this? Living in the most disgusting apartment in a city that has a flying rodent to protect it? Where did your life go so wrong?
He let out another huge sigh and sat down on the only chair in the room. He let his right hand dangle over the side and leaned his head against his left hand. He picked up the remote and turned on the small TV. He was sure that his little robbery would be on the midday news. It was only a few minutes past eleven. He rubbed his temples and then there was a loud crash.
"It's over Riddler." Batman announced as the Edward raced to the door in attempt to flee. But Batman was too quick. He slammed Edward into the door. He was smart than this but he tried to turn the knob, but Batman was using his right leg to pin the door closed.
Edward looked Batman directly in the eye. Edward knew there was no way for Batman to have known where his hideout was. Not even the henchmen he had hired knew. It was his little secret, but someone had obviously let slip the Riddler had made his way back here, maybe a neighbour?
Note to self, next time I choose a secret location, no neighbours.
Batman pinned Edward's arms behind his back, cuffed his wrists and led him downstairs to the where the Bat-mobile was sitting idly in a laneway near Edward's apartment.
"Watch your head" Batman said as he pushed Edward into the car. But Edward wasn't listening, he was more interested in figuring out how Batman had figured out where he went after the robbery, it was only ten past eleven. Batman cheated. It's the only way Edward could explain it. Maybe Batman was on a steak out?
Batman doesn't do stakeouts. There is a good reason on why he doesn't. It could take days before someone robbed a place or that his information could be wrong. But HOW DID HE KNOW WHERE TO FIND ME? I didn't even leave a riddle. It was a clean robbery. No one was hurt, and I got away clean. There is not possible explanation for how he did it.
Edward leaned against the window of the Bat-mobile. Batman looked over at his captive; he knew that Edward was thinking about something. 'How He was able to find him?' was the most logical thing. It was easy Edward, I was in the bank when you robbed the place, but you can't accept that I am Batman so I guess you'll come up with as stupid as 'I cheated' or something.
Edward just stared out the window as he realised he wasn't been taken back to Arkham Asylum, he was going a different way, to the GCPD. Batman pulled up in the car park. Turned the car off and got out. He then went over to the side that Edward was on and dragged the ashamed villain out.
Commissioner Gordon was standing at the door waiting for them. While Edward had been in a daze, Batman had obviously called his capture in. Batman then handed over custody of Edward Nigma to the proper authorities. Edward didn't turn around to see the caped crusader leave. He was too ashamed to look at anything.
Edward just looked down at his cuffed wrists as both Commissioner Gordon and Detective Bullock shouted at him to get a confession out of him. But it wasn't working thus far. It was well past two am on the 22nd of June and Edward Nigma refused to crack.
Gordon pushed up his glasses and rubbed his eyes in frustration. "Ok, Nigma, this is the last time I'm going to ask this, it's been nearly eight hours, who were the people that helped you during the robbery?"
"Now that's the Riddle of the Night isn't it? I don't know who they were. I hired them because I needed some muscle, I'd never associate with that type of scum." Edward retorted. It had been like this since they started interrogating him yesterday.
"Don't get smart with me Nigma." Bullock said as he scoffed another donut.
"Oh I wouldn't dream about getting smart with someone as dumb as you Mr Bullock."
Bullock slammed his fists on the table to see if he could frighten the Riddler into giving a confession, but it didn't work. "THAT'S DETECTIVE BULLOCK TO YOU!"
"Calm down Bullock. It's obvious he's not talking. I'll call Arkham. Tell them we'll be dropping him off in an hour".
Now that statement hit Edward like a ton of bricks. He didn't like Arkham Asylum. You might even say he feared the place. It wasn't the greatest place on Earth, and it struck fear into his bones. His face went pale.
Bullock and Gordon left the room. Edward was left alone, well, alone in the room, there was a wall that had two-way-glass and it was clear that someone was observing the interrogation.
It was not that long of a ride back to Arkham Asylum, two armoured guards had to drag Edward to the administration building. Dr Arkham was waiting at the front desk. It was past three am, about the time Batman usual drops off his regulars, but this time it was the police making a drop off.
Edward looked down at his feet. He didn't want to make eye contact with his doctor after his escape two weeks prior.
Doctor Arkham took custody of Edward and was led away to decontamination by two massive orderlies. When the GCPD guards had left, Dr Arkham greeted Edward with a warm tone.
"Welcome back Edward."
To Be Continued...