CHAPTER 3

INTERROGATION, MCU, GOTHAM CENTRAL

Buffy stood on the other side of the two-way mirror observing the Joker carefully.

He sat calmly in the dim lit room. His handcuffed wrists rested on his lap.

"Agent Summers." Gordon's voice took her from her thoughts.

"He looks bored." Buffy said memorized by the Jokers unflustered demeanor. Her head titled to the side.

Gordon stood behind her. "Nothing. No matches on prints, DNA, dental. Clothing is custom, no labels. Nothing in his pockets but knives and lint. No name, no other alias…nothing. Besides that, he won't talk. He just sits here like a sonuvabitch."

"I'm going in." Buffy moved towards the metal door. "I don't want any disruptions during my interrogation." Gordon nodded watching as the Slayer went into the room.

Gordon watched Buffy slowly approached the psychotic man. The Commissioner glanced to the shadowed figure standing in the corner. "Don't go in." He exited the room to stand guard outside.

Buffy pulled the steel metal chair out and sat down. She sat back crossing his legs.

The Joker's eyes ran over her. He smirked. "God, you are beautiful."

Buffy ignored him. "Harvey Dent never made it home."

"Of course not."

"Care to explain why?" Joker didn't respond right away. He sat back. "What did you do with him?"

The Joker shrugged then leaned forward resting his cuffed wrists on the table top. He gestured to himself innocently. "Me? I was right here. Who did the crack staff leave him with? The Commissioners people? Assuming, of course, that they are still his people and not Maroni's…" The Joker eyed the Slayer. "Why are you here? I don't remember you ever being apart of Gotham's finest."

"I was called in."

"Ooh, from where? Tell me Agent, do you feel responsible for Dent's current predicament?"

Buffy had to decide whether to play along with the Joker's mind game or kick his ass. "No. I don't feel responsible for Dent's current predicament. It's all just a matter of time until you talk."

"What time is it?" The Joker tilted his head to the side.

"Why do you want to know?"

"Depending on the time, he might be in one spot or several." The Joker smiled darkly.

Buffy abruptly stood and moved around the table. The Joker turned in his chair watching her. Buffy took his wrists removing the handcuffs. She moved away from him taking the chair she occupied and placed it under the door handle locking it.

Buffy turned. The Joker stood closely behind her. He closed his eyes smelling her vanilla scented hair. "Why did you contact me?" Buffy asked smoothly unintimidated. The Joker stepped forward backing her against the cool metal door. "How do you know who I am?"

"I know everything about you… Buffy." Buffy looked at him surprised. He inhaled deeply. "You're scent is the same. Intoxicating." Joker studied her carefully. "You look…skinny. Don't you eat?"

Buffy rolled her eyes. Her hands went to his green vested chest and pushed him out of her way. "Just answer the question."

"Which one?" The Joker smiled as his hand cupped her cheek. Buffy caught his wrist and twisted it off of her. She slammed him into the tiled wall angrily. He laughed when he banged his head cracking a tile. Buffy turned him to face her. "Never start with the head. Victim gets fuzzy. Can't feel the next-" Buffy tightly squeezed her hand around his throat. "See?"

She took a step back. "You got me down here, what do you want?" Buffy asked frustrated.

Joker's smile widened and fixed his tie. He pushed himself from the wall moving around her. "I wanted to see what you'd do."

"What I do?"

"You're strong. Someone's been eating there vegetables." The Joker stood in front of her. "Don't you recognize me?"

Buffy looked him over carefully. All she could see was greasy dark green hair costumed tailored purple, green suit, smeared painted face. She didn't recognize him at all.

She looked into his brown eyes. They were warm and familiar. Buffy didn't understand. She shrugged. "Sorry, I usually don't associate myself with crazy-"

"I am not crazy." Joker mumbled deeply frowning.

"Really? Because the clown makeup doesn't really makes you blend in."

Joker laughed. "Glad to see you haven't lost your sense of humor." His yellow toothed smile vanished. "You really don't remember me?"

"I don't." Buffy was quickly tiring of his game.

The Joker caught Buffy off guard when he reached out to cup her cheek. Buffy made no move to bat his hand away. She found his touch comforting. "Why so serious?" He said with a slow smirk.

Buffy's eyes widened flooded with lost emotions. She stepped back covering her hand over her mouth. "Jack?"