Chapter 2: The best laid plans…

"Mr. Wayne there is an Alice Pleasance here to see you."

"Send her in Julie."

Bruce Wayne drummed his finger tips on top of his desk. Why would Alice Pleasance come to see him? Could she be in danger? Keep your head straight Bruce, she came to see you not Batman.

The door opened, and the vibrant young woman he knew as Jervis' secretary looked a bit more life worn than he had remembered. He noticed right away that she had dressed very professionally with shiny new shoes to boot. Maybe she needed a job? No, she had left the company, or at least human resources had said so.

"Thank you Mr. Wayne for seeing me on such short notice."

She sat very carefully, obviously choosing her movements with care, and it made him wonder all the more at her motives.

"I have to say Miss Pleasance that this visit is a bit confusing. I don't want to seem as if I'm to important to…"

"Oh no Mr. Wayne I know you're a very busy man! I just…I have…I need…"

Bruce Wayne sat back in his chair regarding the nervous woman before him. As she tried to find her words, he took a moment to really access the situation. She was still Alice Pleasance and there was no ring on her finger, which made him wonder if her and her boyfriend were taking it slow or had called it quits. The outfit she had on was neat but well worn, so the shoes must have been her attempt at giving the illusion of a new outfit. Maybe she wanted money? He took a breath and tried to offer her a reassuring smile before speaking.

"Miss Pleasance…"

"Oh please Mr. Wayne, call me Alice."

"Alright then Alice, please call me Bruce. Let me make this easier for you. Despite the fact you left the company, we still take care of our own, past and present. I know times are hard for everyone and…"

"I don't need money Mr.…Bruce. That isn't why I came."

Alice found herself holding her breath immediately after she spoke. With a statement like that the next move was definitely hers. She watched carefully as Bruce Wayne sat back in his chair, crossing his arms and waiting expectantly for exactly why she had come. She should have assumed that money would come up. Everyone in the world was probably knocking at his door for money. When he said she had left the company her stomach churned. She didn't expect for the head of the company to know much about his underlings, but she had to admit to herself that it stung just a bit.

"I don't know how to ask you what I want to ask you. It isn't a very normal request."

She fidgeted with her purse, looking off to the side a moment.

"It isn't even a sane one. I don't know if you've heard about Jervis Tetch…"

Bruce stiffened, not at the mention of the man's name, but at the utter absurdity of the person mentioning it. "Did you say Jervis Tetch?"

"Yes he was in your developmental research department."

"I remember Jervis Tetch very well Alice. As I recall, from the papers, he abducted you from your home didn't he?"

"Yes Mr. Wayne that is all correct, which makes my request even harder to put into words."

He did take notice of the shift back to formalities, knowing that whatever this request was it was serious. "Alice please just come right out and ask me. There's no need to be nervous. If I can help I will."

"Ok here goes. I need you to call Arkham Mr. Wayne and arrange for me to meet with Jervis again. I know you have influence and I know that if you ask for it they'll do it."

Alice saw him frown immediately, and the shake of his head was not promising. The formal use of her name was even less promising.

"Miss Pleasance I think you're acting irrationally. Coming face to face with Jervis Tetch is only going to fuel his fantasy that you care for him and cause problems for you later down the road. I'm sorry."

The sound of the buzzer was a guillotine.

"Julie can you please show Miss Pleasance the door?"

Alice stood up, shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry to have bothered you Mr. Wayne."

He heard that familiar tremor in her voice as she turned and walked out. He regretted his cold disregard of her plight, but her request spelled serious danger.

"She put in her own petition to see him Alfred."

Alfred raised a brow, dusting things that didn't need to be dusted. "A petition to see who Master Bruce?"

"Jervis Tetch."

"I see. Why on earth would she want to see him?"

"I'm not sure Alfred."

Alfred watched as images of Jervis Tetch flashed across the screen of the larger computer in the Batcave. He knew from experience that these had to be Jervis' files from Arkham, but he could never make sense of them as fast as Bruce Wayne flew through them.

"Might I assume he isn't getting time off for good behavior?"

"Hardly. According to doctor's notes he's slipping farther into his delusion. He longer answers to Jervis Tetch and when they question him about his former life, he denies ever living in Gotham."

"It sounds to me, Master Bruce, as if discouraging Miss Pleasance was the right thing to do."

"Maybe Alfred, but I have a feeling that Alice Pleasance isn't going to give up so easily."

Bruce Wayne inhaled deeply, shedding himself as pulled on his cowl and prepared for the night.

"May I expect you home at a reasonable hour Master Bruce?"

As Alfred turned, he found himself alone in the cavern under the mansion as the sound of the Bat mobile exiting the tunnel filled his ears. He simply went back to tidying up things that would never find any order.

"Are you sure you want to do this Miss Pleasance?"

Alice nodded, trying to quell the butterflies in her stomach. She didn't want to ask her father for help, but his minor political influence was enough to do what Bruce Wayne would not. She was thankful that promises to move back home for awhile was all it took to get him to make a few calls.

The guard shrugged his shoulders casually at Dr. Bartholomew before moving out to prepare Tetch for his visitor. Alice tried to make it seem as if she were prepared for this, but every second that ticked by made her wonder if this wasn't a terrible mistake.

"Miss Pleasance I must warn you that the Jervis Tetch you knew no longer exists. I'm afraid that we can only let you speak to him through the glass, for your own safety."

Alice nodded. "I understand. Thank you."

The Guard moved back in, motioned for Alice to follow him. Even the halls leading to the communication room made her panic inside. Arkham was not only a prison but a living nightmare pieced together with shadows, gray stone, and emptiness. She was taken to a private room monitored by cameras, where two seats were separated by thick glass and walls with telephones on either side. The safety measure made her feel better, but not much.

Alice sat down, placing her purse on her lap, facing the currently empty chair in front of her. Her heart began to thud in her ears as the door across the room opened, and a slumped blonde figure was led in. Like it or not, there was no turning back now.