Disclaimer: I dont own Batman

Marie Gardner always tried to leave work early, she hated driving though Gotham at night. Crime was rampant and a woman alone was an easy target, so she tried to leave work in plenty of time to make it back to her apartment before the crazies took to the streets. However sometimes it was impossible to make it out before dusk settled like tonight, these were the nights that she checked her purse for her mace before she stepped into the parking garage to get to her car.

Marie pulled out of the parking spot in her rather beaten up green car and clicked the locks down. Trying to drown out the sound of the objecting engine and her own worrying she snapped on the radio to a local station playing a collection of 1960's rock hits and The Beatles crooned out of the speakers at her singing Blue Jay Way, not what she would have picked but beggars cant be choosers right? One corner of her mouth pulled up into a lopsided grin that a friend had told her fit the impossibly dry sense of humor she seemed to have been born with.

Three rather loud and annoying beeps sounded from the speakers, Marie groaned every citizen of Gotham knew that sound and what it meant. Those tones meant that there was a situation that the police of their fine city saw dangerous enough too warn the lowly citizens of. "This is a public service announcement," the soothing voice told her. Marie rolled her eyes she was certain that this voice was used all over the world for calming people who had no right to be calm, like citizens of Gotham and people about to die in airplane crashes. "We have recently been informed that there has been a Break out at Arkham Asylum."

"Of course there has," She said bitterly, "It's not like they can wait till I get home."

"Police report that several dangerous criminals were part of the breakout," the voice continued too calm for the news it was reporting. "No citizen should attempt to approach the prisoners under any circumstances."

"Really? I thought I should ask one of them out for dinner. It would make for interesting table chat."She mocked, "And what do you do sir?"

"I kill people," she said changing her voice to be the inmate she had invited home.

"Really what an interesting profession," She acknowledged returning to her own voice.

The radio continued unimpressed with her remarks, "We repeat if anyone sees one of these men they should report it to the police immediately."

Marie was about to make another scathing comment when there was a loud bang and her car lurched forward, she swore as she pulled off to the side of the road and looked around, there didn't appear to be anyone around and despite the radios warning she decided to get out and see what the noise had been. She clutched the mace in her left hand and her cell phone in her right ready for anything.

She slid out of the driver's seat and onto the concrete her flats clicking obviously in the quiet as she went around the car. She swore quiet a bit as she saw that her front passenger side tire had blown out and flipped open her phone and began to search through her contacts list to find some one to come out and help her fix the stupid thing.

She didn't notice the other person in the area until he had grasped her wrist knocking the spray can from her hand and gently holding a knife to her throat with his other. "I'm not going to hurt you lady," said a voice close to ear that didn't sound very reassuring.

"I'm for that," she whispered her natural sarcasm taking hold and she mentally kicked herself for it.

"Figured you would be," said the voice chortling a little, "So here's what's going to happen. I'm gonna let go of your arm and you are gonna hand over that cell phone."

"Deal," Marie said as she handed the phone to her captor who took it and released her wrist with a giggle that sent shivers down her spine. Keeping the knife poised at her throat he dialed a number and cleared his throat as it rang a few times.

"Hello there Commissioner," he said mockingly into the device. "It doesn't matter how I got the number the point is I have it." He chuckled quietly as the person on the other end seemed to threaten him, "Well you know it was you, you and your little Batman, who got me locked up in there… Don't worry commissioner I'll see you soon enough." He handed the phone back to Marie and spun her around to face him.

The moment she saw him she recognized him, it was the nut who had called himself The Joker, a few months previous he had very nearly destroyed the city until being apprehended. He was still just as terrifying as the images she had seen on TV and this time a little too close for comfort.

He pressed the knife against her lips and smiled at her, "Do you know why I'm going to let you live?" He asked calmly never taking his eyes off her.

"No," she whispered trembling violently as he held her motionless next to him unable to rip herself from his eyes.

"Then neither will anyone else," He told her calmly as he lowered the knife and placed it into his pocket, "But we may be seeing each other later." He chuckled a bit and turned and dashed off leaving her shaking and frightened.

"Hello is anyone there?" A gruff voice echoed around her and it took a moment for her to put the phone to her ear.

"Yes, who is this," She asked her voice cracking.

"This is Commissioner Gordon," The voice said, "who is this."

"Marie, Marie Gardner," she said softly.

"Are you alright," he asked trying to calm her.

"I think so," She said.

"Listen I'm going to need your location, and we'll get a squad car down there as soon as we can," The Commissioner said using the too calm voice and this time Marie didn't mind.

She told him where she was and he reassured her that everything was going to be fine. Then With a sigh he asked, "Was it really him?"

"Undoubtedly," she said recalling his scared face smeared makeup and purple coat.

Gordon let out a swear then said, "I'll be right down."