Okay, folks, new chapter! We rejoin our heroes in Gotham, each seeking answers. Batman wants to know what happened to the employees of Shreck Industries, Jessica and Seth want to know who Batman is, and Max Shreck is dying to know if the rumors are true about the Joker... and someone just may take him literally.
This chapter written by TouchedByAMunster!
The Dark Knight was once again on patrol over Gotham. This was his city. It had been roughly a year since the Joker had last appeared, and he felt guilty he couldn't save him. First the fall into the vat of acid, then the fall off of Gotham Cathedral. The Joker may have been a deranged psychopath, but he was still a human being in need of saving. At least Gotham no longer would be menaced by his devilry…
Or would it? There were rumors circulating through the underworld that the Clown Prince of Crime had returned, and was ready to strike again. Tonight was the night he would know for sure. At an abandoned warehouse, crime boss Sal Maroni and his men were stealing stuff.
"OK, boys," Sal said, "We're gonna loot this place! The cops won't even know what hit them!"
"But I will!" came an almost ethereal voice. Perched above the mobsters was the dark figure of the Batman.
"Batman!" Maroni shouted, "Get him, men!" The thugs started shooting as Batman swooped down onto them. He knocked the guns out of their hands with batarangs. Maroni started to run, but Batman whipped out a bat-bola and tied him up before he could escape. Later on, Batman met Commissioner Gordon up on the roof of Police Headquarters.
Gordon extended a hand to the Dark Knight. "Thank you for netting Maroni for us, Batman. Thanks to you, Gotham is a bit safer tonight."
Batman shook the commissioner's hand. "Glad I could be of service, Commissioner."
"But it's still not entirely safe," Gordon continued, with a grim expression.
"What do you mean?" Batman asked, frowning beneath his cowl.
"These are photos the forensic scientists took earlier," Gordon said, handing him an envelope. Inside were pictures of people with hideous grins and deathly complexions. "Detectives Bullock and Montoya found them earlier this evening. According to the coroner's report, they've been dead for nearly three weeks."
"And you think the Joker's back?" Batman asked.
"Near as we can figure," Gordon said. "But we all saw that grinning ghoul fall from the cathedral. It's impossible. How could he have survived that?"
Batman felt his stomach clench. "I don't know, Commissioner, but I'm gonna get to the bottom of it." He turned to go, but Gordon stopped him.
"Batman, one more thing. Detective Bullock tells me that all of these victims were employees of Shreck Industries. That might tell us something."
Batman nodded. "I'll look into it. Thank you, Commissioner." He swung away on his grappling hook. Later on at Shreck industries, Max Shreck was in his office filing his taxes. Needless to say, the process was putting him in an even uglier mood than usual.
"Miss Kyle!" Max barked, causing the petite blond at the desk beside him to jump. "Get me some coffee!"
"Right away, sir," his timid secretary, Selina Kyle, said. She left the room. Within moments, Max heard a gust of wind.
"Selina!" he snapped, "I thought I told you to shut the window!"
"Evening, Max!" came a gruff voice. The tycoon looked up to see the Guardian of Gotham standing before him.
"You!" Max exclaimed, leaping up from his chair. "What do you want?" Batman took out the photographs and showed them to Max.
"Five former employees of Shreck Industries went missing three weeks ago, and all of them were discovered like this! Know anything about it?" Batman asked.
Max composed his face into a why-should-I-care look. "Why should I know anything? Gotham is a dangerous city, Batman. There's no telling what could happen. True, you helped reduce the crime rate, but if my employees don't show up for work, that's no skin off my nose. I just hire replacements."
"Well, if you end up being next, don't say I didn't warn you." Batman cautioned him.
"Did you just threaten me, freak?" Max asked, shoving his face up close to Batman's mask.
"Not yet," Batman said, grabbing him by the collar, "But if I find out you're behind this in any way, I'm coming after you. Good night, Mr. Shreck." Batman fired his grappling hook, and swooped out the window.
"Listen, freak!" Max shouted. "I have lawyers! I won't stand for this!"
Just then, Selina minced back into the room. "Your coffee, Mr. Shreck."
Max snatched the coffee cup, slopping it al over the office's pristine carpet. "Thank you, Miss Kyle," he spat. "You may go now."
Later, Batman arrived back in the Batcave.
"How goes the nightly patrol, sir?" Alfred asked as Batman - now Bruce Wayne - got out of the Batmobile.
"Troubling, Alfred," Bruce said. "We have reason to believe the Joker has returned. Gordon and the GCPD detectives found bodies that were exposed to Smilex gas."
Alfred raised his eyebrows. "Ah yes, the Joker's lethal poison. How might the fiend have returned, sir?"
"I don't know," Bruce said, "But I have a hunch Max Shreck may have been involved. "I went to see him, but he claimed he didn't know anything. By the way, how are our guests doing?"
"Mrs. Fletcher and Dr. Hazlitt are getting a well-deserved rest, as should you."
"There's still work to be done."
"I am aware, Master Bruce," Alfred reminded him. "But I am also aware that you must get a proper amount of sleep in order to perform your necessary duties as Bruce Wayne and maintain your energy for crime-fighting."
Bruce shook his head fondly. Even after all these years, Alfred still looked after him like a father. "I'll be fine, Alfred. After all, it shouldn't be that difficult showing Jessica and Seth around Gotham."
"I should hope so, sir," Alfred said. "And you shouldn't underestimate Mrs. Fletcher. She is a remarkable woman."
"Alfred, I know how to read people, and you seem to be infatuated with Jessica," Bruce said with a grin.
Alfred blushed. "Nonsense, sir," he said, as the blush spread to his ears. "It's merely a… professional curiosity, nothing more. If you must know, while you've been going out on patrol, I've been amusing myself reading Mrs. Fletcher's latest mystery novels, to serve perhaps as inspiration for my own novel."
Bruce just chuckled. "Keep telling yourself that, Alfred," he said as they headed upstairs.
Later, back at Shreck Industries, Max was getting ready to leave. Selina stepped in.
"Selina, I thought I told you to leave." Max said darkly, glaring up at her.
"I was just about to, sir," she said, "but you have an… unexpected visitor."
"If it's any more men dressed up as flying rodents, tell them to fly away home. I've had my fill of nocturnal pests for one night." Max griped.
"So have I, Max." came an eerie voice from the shadows.
"Who are you?" Max asked, a hint of fear in his voice.
"Oh, I think you should know me by now, Maxie," he said, "Although we've never been properly introduced." The figure stepped out of the shadows, and Max shrank back in horror. Selina screamed. It can't be… he's supposed to be dead!
Clearly, no one had mentioned that to the Clown Prince of Crime, who stood alive and well and leering at Max. "Friends call me the Joker! Well, they would if I had any!" Joker burst into maniacal laughter.
"What do you want?" Max demanded. "What did you do to my employees?"
"Oh, it's simple, Max," Joker said, leaning casually on Max's desk. "I merely helped them see the funny side of life, er, rather, death!" Selina looked terrified of the Clown Prince of Crime.
Suddenly taking notice of Selina, Joker's grin widened and he grabbed the timid secretary. "You have such a lovely assistant, Max. Though my last seduction of women didn't go over so well. I needed to use you to draw the bat out, and it looks like it worked." He planted a kiss on Selina's cheek; she groaned in disgust and tried to squirm out of his grasp.
"How are you alive?" Shreck asked, still astonished.
"That's for me to know and you to find out, Maxie-boy," Joker teased. "How about you work with me? Your hands will be totally clean in the public eye, I promise. All I want you to do is help me bring down Batman."
"No deal, smiley!" Max snapped. "I've got a business to run, and it wouldn't look good if someone found out I was collaborating with a resurrected psychopath, no offense."
Joker waved a purple-gloved hand. "None taken, Maxie. Just don't be surprised when you find more happy employees. See ya round!" He stroked Selina's blonde hair and whispered in her ear, "Until next time, my beauty." With a final kiss, he released her. Max and Selina exchanged terrified looks as the Clown Prince of Crime skipped merrily away.
The next morning, Jessica and Seth woke up and ate breakfast, served by Alfred, in the Wayne dining room.
"Alfred, will Bruce be in today?" Jessica asked, as he poured her some milk. "After all, he promised to show us around town."
"Master Wayne sends his regards," Alfred said. "Alas, he will not, I'm afraid. He got… tied up with work and will be unable to accompany you and Dr. Hazlitt. Although, I'd be happy to give you the guided tour, madam. I am Mr. Wayne's valet after all."
"Alright, Jeeves," Seth said, narrowing his eyes at the butler. "No need to get frisky."
"Forgive my forwardness, Dr. Hazlitt," Alfred apologized. "I meant no disrespect to you or Mrs. Fletcher."
"Of course not," Seth said, somewhat mollified.
"Dr. Hazlitt, you aren't by chance related to a Reverend Hazlitt, are you?" Alfred asked, hoping the question would help them find some common ground. "He just so happens to be the minister of my church."
"That's not the cathedral that blasted Joker fell off, is it?" Seth asked. "And no, no relation."
"I thought as much," Alfred said. "I was just curious. You and the Reverend have a lot in common, you know. Whereas you are a doctor for the body, the reverend is a doctor for the soul. He tells us to think of the church as a hospital for the sick and broken, instead of a museum for saints. And it's not the same building as where the unfortunate business with Joker happened."
The mention of the Joker sparked a memory in Jessica's mind. "Alfred, speaking of Joker, it says here in the paper that victims of the deadly Smilex gas were discovered recently, all ex-employees of Shreck Industries. And another sighting of the Batman, seen near Shreck Industries last night."
"You don't suppose this bat-freak has anything to do with these murders, do you, Jess?" Seth asked.
"Well, I should think not. However, one can never be too careful, especially in Gotham City."
Seth sighed. "Sounds like we have another murder to solve."
Later, Alfred drove Jessica and Seth downtown.
"We need to stop at Shreck Industries," Jessica said.
"Please be careful, Mrs. Fletcher," Alfred warned. "Distinguished as he may be, Mr. Shreck is known to be quite the ruffian."
Jessica smiled, grateful for his concern. "We'll be fine, Alfred. Come on, Seth." They got out of the car and walked up to the front of the building, but were abruptly stopped by security.
"Hold on!" the guard said, stepping in front of them. "Where do you think you're going?"
"I'm Mrs. Jessica Fletcher, and this Dr. Seth Hazlitt," Jessica said. "We need to speak with Mr. Shreck. We met the other night at the opening of the Wayne Library."
"Mr. Shreck isn't seeing any visitors today," the guard informed them. "You'll have to make an appointment."
"Well, I'm sure I wouldn't need an appointment if I was a winged vigilante, now would I?" Seth asked in frustration.
"No intruders are permitted on the premises, sir, costumed or not," the guard said.
"They're not intruders, they're with me," came a voice. A young woman pushed through the crowd. It was none other than Vicki Vale. "Vicki Vale, Gotham Globe. Please let us through. The public has a right to know about this."
"No press, lady," the guard said obstinately.
Vicki glared at him "Well, then, I'll just have to run a story about Max Shreck's corrupt business dealings. And when he comes asking who plunged his company into bankruptcy, I'll point him to you." The guard hesitated a moment, and then stepped aside.
"Alright, you can pass," he said reluctantly, "but only for one hour."
"My goodness, Vicki," Jessica whispered as they made their way inside. "However do you manage it?"
"A reporter has to know all the sneaky, underhanded tricks, Mrs. Fletcher," Vicki said, smiling mischievously. "How do you think we make it so big?"
They stopped by the front desk, where Selina Kyle was filing papers.
"Excuse me," Vicki said, "We're here to see Mr. Shreck."
Selina looked up from her work. "Do you have an appointment?"
"No, but it's kind of urgent," Vicki said.
"I'm sorry, but you need an appointment," Selina replied. Her voice was so timid that Jessica's heart went out to her. Poor dear, she sounds terrified, and I don't think it's because of us. Mr. Shreck must treat her horribly.
"Well, you can tell your boss that if I don't see him now, I'd be happy to print up a rather scathing expose on him featuring scandalous photos of his romantic liaison with his previous secretary." Vicki threatened, pulling the news card again.
"Alright, I'll go ask him." Selina said, her shoulders slumping. "Your names, please?"
"Vicki Vale and Jessica Fletcher," Vicki said.
"Oh, and this is my friend, Dr. Seth Hazlitt," Jessica said. After asking them to wait momentarily, Selina walked into Max's office.
"Sorry to bother you, Mr. Shreck, but Vicki Vale, Dr. Hazlitt, and Jessica Fletcher are here, and they threaten to publish an incriminating article on you if you don't see them now."
A growl sounded from inside the office before they heard, "All right, Miss Kyle, send them in."
"Mr. Shreck will see you now." Selina said, coming back out into the hallway. Jessica sent her a sympathetic look before they entered the office.
"Doctor, ladies, what can I do for you?" Max asked, as they walked into his office.
"Mr. Shreck," Jessica said, coolly shaking his proffered hand, "I'm Jessica Fletcher. I'm sure you remember me. We met at the party the other night when the Bookworm attacked."
"Ah, the esteemed J.B. Fletcher," Max said, "And the lovely Ms. Vale. Not to mention the brilliant Dr. Hazlitt. What can I do for you?"
Ignoring Seth's eye-roll at the brownnosing, Jessica began, "Well, Mr. Shreck, to put it bluntly, I hear you've been having bat problems lately."
"Oh, nothing that a little pesticide won't fix," Max said, with a wave of his hand.
"Then you admit a certain bat-eared vigilante paid you a visit recently?" Jessica asked.
"No, Mrs. Fletcher," Max said, though Jessica could detect a slight vein pulsing in his neck. "Nothing of the kind. Can I help it if my work attracts Gotham's more… colorful reprobates?"
"Speaking of which," Seth cut in, "We noticed that several of your employees have turned up dead recently, all sporting the signature grin of the Smilex drug, used by the Joker."
"Perhaps you should leave the detective work to the police, Doctor," Max said condescendingly. "That maniac is long dead!"
"All we want to know is if there's any connection between these murders and the Batman," Jessica said calmly, still eyeing the vein in Max's neck.
"Maybe you should ask your ace reporter friend," Max said, with a nasty grin at Vicki. "After all, she tangled with Batman and Joker personally, from what I understand."
"Mr. Shreck—" Vicki stammered.
"Please, call me Max." Max said.
"Max," Vicki said, her cheeks flaming, "I don't any more than you know. But I know Batman's not behind these murders. Either the Joker's back, or someone's trying to make it look like he's back."
"And as a mystery novelist, I am going to help solve this case," Jessica said.
"You do that, Mrs. Fletcher," Max said, "And then maybe the GCPD will give you an honorary badge to go with those literary awards… and the trophy from the Cabot Cove Bake-Off."
Before either Seth or Jessica could respond to such an ignorant remark, Vicki intervened. "And on that note, we'd better be going. So long, Max," Vicki said. The blustering billionaire waved as they walked out the door of his office.
"Ugh, what an insufferable man!" Jessica exclaimed, still peeved at his comment about her age status.
"Not exactly the word I had in mind. I'd say it, but I'm in the presence of ladies, and I don't want to ask you two to pardon my French," Seth said. "I'm sorry, but I don't like hearing a lady insulted like that."
"Thank you, Seth. You know I always appreciate your gallantry," Jessica said, taking Seth's arm and offering him a warm smile. He beamed in response.
"So what now?" Vicki asked, as they exited the building. "Max gave us little to no information."
"I might know of another place we could try," Seth said, "but I should warn you girls, it could be dangerous."
"Seth, have I ever been one to shy away from danger?" Jessica asked with a glimmer in her eye.
"No, you haven't, Jess," Seth said, smiling in spite of himself. "That's what I love about you."
Meanwhile, Alfred was talking to Bruce on the two-way bat-radio in car parked in the alley nearby.
"Sir, I must inform you, Mrs. Fletcher was very disappointed you couldn't join us this morning," Alfred told him.
"I know, Alfred," Bruce said. "Tell her I'm sorry, but Wayne Enterprises business has to come first. Plus, I'm running down some leads in my spare time to see if there's been sightings of our green-haired friend. Lucius is gathering some intel."
"I could contact my friend Michael Haggerty as well, Master Bruce," Alfred said. "He really is quite resourceful."
"No need to get anyone else involved, Alfred. I'll talk to you later." Bruce put the device back in his coat pocket.
"Mr. Wayne?" Lucius Fox asked, as he walked in. "Your 3:00 is here."
"Very good, Lucius," Bruce said, "Send him in." A bald man with glasses walked in the office.
"So glad you could meet me on such short notice, Mr. Wayne," the man said. "Please allow me to introduce myself. I'm Dr. Hugo Strange."
Meanwhile, outside of Shreck Industries, Jessica, Seth, and Vicki made their way to the Wayne limo.
"Nice to see you again, Mrs. Fletcher," Alfred said. "As well as Dr. Hazlitt and the lovely Ms. Vale."
"Pleased to see you again too, Alfred," Vicki said, giving the butler a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Jessica apologized.
"Oh, no trouble at all, Mrs. Fletcher," Alfred said, smiling at her. "Where to now?"
"To the place formerly known as Park Row, now called Crime Alley." Jessica said.
"Crime Alley?" Vicki asked, her eyebrows knitting. "But that's where Bruce's parents were murdered!"
"You don't want to go there, do you?" Alfred asked in shock.
"I know, Vicki," Jessica said, "and yes, I do, Alfred." A little while later, they arrived in Crime Alley.
"Please be careful, Mrs. Fletcher," Alfred said.
"Don't worry, lover boy," Seth said dryly, "Jess can take care of herself."
"Very good, then," Alfred said, as he drove off. Jessica, Seth, and Vicki walked the forlorn streets, seeing the poverty and crime that resulted because of it.
"So sad," Jessica remarked. "To think this is where Bruce Wayne's life changed forever."
"You don't know the half of it," Vicki muttered. "Look, that's where Bruce marked the spot where they died." She pointed to the alley where Jack Napier had gunned down Bruce's parents before his eyes. There were two roses placed on the ground.
"What clues could we find here, Seth?" Jessica asked. "Surely you're not sending us on a wild goose-chase through this hellish town?"
"Seth?" came a female voice from behind them. "Is it really you?"
"It's me, Leslie," Seth said, utterly unsurprised.
"Seth, what's going on?" Jessica asked in bewilderment, as her friend hugged an elderly woman in a doctor's coat.
"Jess, I'm afraid I wasn't entirely honest with you when we came here," Seth said, looking sheepish. "I may have had ulterior motives for wanting to join you. This is Dr. Leslie Thompkins. She and I went to med school together along with Bruce's father, Thomas Wayne."