Interviewing the Mad Man
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The darkness struck through the light. The silence ticked like a pendulum, heavy on the soul. Gordon could feel the eyes boring into him. He guessed that those behind the glass would be panicking right about now. Fevered hands running over red hot buttons trying to bring back the light. No doubt somebody would be trying to open the only door leading to the interview room, all to no avail. Joker wasn't that stupid. Gordon's life was flashing through his mind. Memories of what he had once treasured and might not be able to do if things didn't go his way. Everything became pronounced and he was wondering whether anything would happen to him. How could he leave his family now?
But he had something that the people behind the glass didn't. He knew that, so far, nothing had happened to him. The Joker had nearly had a minute and Gordon hadn't been attacked or threatened by the theatrical prisoner. He had stayed still and stayed safe. Yet, the silence was becoming unnerving. It always did before something terrible happened. It was creeping through his ears and through his mind. A tiger would have been less deadly.
THEN THE LIGHTS CAME UP
It pierced his sight and for a moment, Gordon sat frantically blinking in the brightness. After a few seconds, both he and those behind the glass noticed the truth.
Sitting before Gordon was no longer the man in the tailored purple suit and the torn smile. Gone was the man who had held Gotham in his fearful grip. Instead, in his place, was a bound and gagged police officer. He was breathing heavily, sweat dripping down his face and onto his uniform shirt … and he was crying. His mouth was tied with a purple handkerchief and it looked like he'd been thrown onto the chair like a rag doll. His eyes held only fear. However, what Gordon instantly noticed was the playing card, sewn with purple thread into the police officer's forehead.
Gordon leapt from his seat as a few officers burst into the room after their failed attempts. Gordon wrenched the gag from the man's mouth and checked that he was alright before allowing the other officers to check him over properly.
Gordon glanced around the room. There was nowhere to hide. There had been no way in and no way out. How could he have done it? How could the madman have escaped? Gordon cursed under his breath, running his hands through his hair with stress. He walked to the bound man only to find he had fallen into unconsciousness. Gordon wouldn't get anything from him for a few hours. There was only one thing he could do…
Without telling his men where he was headed, Gordon ran from the room. Through the GCPD, up the flights of stairs and to the roof. He pushed the door open that led to the shimmering night air of Gotham. He ran over to what he had once termed as the 'Bat signal'. Now that it was broken, the bat would no longer leave its mark, but maybe he would see the light. Maybe he'd still come…?
Before Gordon could do anything, he heard that sound and he felt that fear drift over his heart. It wasn't a fear that he would openly admit to, but nonetheless it was still there. It was the feeling of being intently watched. He looked to his feet before turning to see the dark knight. Cloak flapping in the breeze. Gordon didn't have to speak.
'I know.'